Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1541326
15 CEO / STRATEGY 58% of physician leaders eye CEO role: McKinsey survey By Paige Twenter Nearly 6 in 10 U.S. physician leaders aspire to become a CEO one day, according to a McKinsey & Co. survey. McKinsey surveyed 296 physician leaders across the U.S. in May. Of the 258 leaders who are not CEOs, 58% indicated interest in becoming a CEO. Sixteen percent said they were unsure, and 26% said they do not have that aspiration. In interviews, several physician CEOs told researchers they did not initially envision the CEO role. "is suggests the need to identify and nurture high-potential physicians regardless of their stated interest in the CEO role," according to an Oct. 13 McKinsey article. "For institutions, this means employing a more meritocratic, data-driven approach to identify potential leaders who may be otherwise 'invisible' by casting a broader net than traditional methods." Today, 15% of CEOs at the nation's top healthcare organizations are physicians, the article said. e research investigated emerging trends in physician leadership, including what motivates physicians to pursue a CEO role, the barriers they face and their most influential leadership development experiences. Four survey findings to know: 1. About half of surveyed physician leaders selected "broader impact on patient care" as a top three motivator for pursuing a leadership role. Other top motivators were "more influence on innovation and transformation in healthcare" and "personal and professional growth." 2. e surveyed executives reported strong confidence in their business skills, but CEOs not part of the survey told researchers this is oen a weak spot. "One important explanation for this disconnect: e skills and behaviors that may have helped physicians succeed in a prior role may not be sufficient for their next role," the article said. "To address this gap, physicians should approach their leadership journey with a growth mindset, continuously learning and understanding what is required to succeed at scaling their impact. 3. Barriers for physicians looking to step into a CEO role vary, but the survey said top challenges included skill and experience gaps, perception barriers, training gaps and institutional barriers. 4. e most effective development opportunities are on-the- job training, degree programs, informal mentorship, leadership fellowships, networking and peer coaching. n Hospital CEO exits up 6% year over year: 4 things to know By Kelly Gooch H ospitals reported 85 CEO exits from January through August 2025 — a nearly 6% increase from 80 recorded during the same period in 2024. The finding is from executive coaching firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas' Sept. 30 report examining CEO turnovers in the U.S. Four things to know: 1. Seven of the 85 CEO exits that hospitals reported through August 2025 occurred in August. 2. Across 29 industries and sectors, 1,504 CEOs departed through August in 2025, up 4% from 1,450 the same period last year. This is the highest year-to-date total since the firm began tracking CEO exits in 2002, according to Challenger. 3. In August 2025, specifically, 146 CEO exits were reported across industries — up from 123 the month prior. 4. In healthcare, Becker's has reported about 145 hospital and health system CEO exits since Jan. 2, including retirements and resignations. n Average new CEO age falls to 9-year low By Kristin Kuchno T he average age of new CEOs declined in 2025 to its lowest point since 2016, according to a report from executive search firm Crist Kolder Associates. In 2025, the average age at hire for new CEOs was 52.9 — down from 54.3 in 2024. The figure peaked at 55.5 in 2022, compared to 52.2 in 2016. The youngest average age recorded in the report was 51.5 in 2015, the earliest year analyzed. The report also examined average ages of CEOs and CFOs from 2015 to 2025, which have remained largely constant over the decade. CEOs are, on average, five years older than CFOs, according to the report. In 2025, the average CEO was 57.8 — consistent with 57.7 in 2024. For CFOs, the average was 52.6 in 2025, compared to 52.2 the previous year. Crist Kolder's annual report tracks C-suite turnover among 667 companies in the Fortune 500 and S&P 500, 9.7% of which operate in the healthcare sector. n