2026 Global CEO Outlook (KPMG Switzerland)

Summary

• CEO confidence in three-year growth prospects of their organizations rose from 79% in 2025 to 84%.p.2
• Confidence in the global economy fell from 68% to 65%, its lowest level since 2021.p.2
• Cybersecurity and data security is cited as the most common threat to growth, by 31% of CEOs.p.5
• 45% of CEOs increased investment in cybersecurity and digital risk resilience, the most chosen area.p.5
• 72% expect to allocate more than 10% of their budget to AI in the next year.p.8
• 57% rate ethical challenges as very or mostly challenging for AI implementation, followed by cybersecurity at 52%, cost at 51% and data sovereignty at 50%.p.7

Key insights

1. 68% expect annual profit growth of at least 2.5%, compared with 61% in 2025.p.2
2. 79% feel greater pressure to ensure the long-term prosperity of their organizations.p.2
3. 63% of CEOs describe their main response in the past year as embedding sustainability more deeply.p.2
4. Most CEOs, 61%, are maintaining their risk appetite.p.5
5. Regulatory compliance and reporting follows cyber for increased investment, at 36%.p.5
6. 66% expect the pace of AI regulation to be a barrier to organizational success.p.7
7. 71% expect a greater return from AI within one to three years.p.7