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CHIEF EXECUTIVE RESEARCH

Actionable Business Intelligence for CEOs

Through its vast network of engaged business leaders, Chief Executive conducts regular research to better understand the needs, challenges and priorities of CEOs and C-Suites across America and help the business community overcome obstacles and navigate difficulties via peer-driven insights and benchmarking data.

Some of our proprietary research includes our flagship CEO Confidence Index, which has been taking the pulse of CEOs on a monthly basis since 2002, our annual rankings of the Best & Worst States for Business, our annual CEO & Senior Executive Compensation Report for Private Companies and our annual Financial Performance Benchmarks Report for U.S. Companies, which takes a deep dive into a variety of operational metrics such as COGS, turnover ratios, pricing strategies, profit margins and R&D.

FEATURED REPORTS

CEO & Senior Executive Compensation Report

With data collected from thousands of U.S. companies, the CEO & Senior Executive Compensation Report for U.S. Private Companies showcases more than 140,000 data points, by industry, ownership type, company size, region, profitability and a host of other benchmarking variables. This report helps companies structure the right combination of salary, bonus, benefits, perks and equity incentives for their top, mission-critical executives.

Financial Performance Benchmarks Report

Utilizing data from U.S.-based companies, this annual subscription, delivered in modules, provides an in-depth look into pricing strategies, departmental staffing costs and turnover ratios, days receivables/payables, R&D budgets and other key performance indicators to help you benchmark your operations against peers and drive growth.


Compensation Trends Report

Staying on top of pay trends is essential to keeping your company competitive. The 2025 Annual Compensation Trends Report gives HR leaders and finance professionals forward-looking data on base pay and bonus projections for frontline workers, back-office staff and middle managers. It offers insights into what competitors are doing to attract and retain top talent on the compensation front.

RESEARCH REPORT DOWNLOADS

Private Company Compensation: Retaining Key Talent to Ensure Long-Term

Finding and retaining top talent is increasingly challenging due to tight labor markets and shifting workforce priorities like work-life balance. Private companies struggle to compete with public companies, especially regarding equity-based compensation. However, using creative compensation, noncash rewards, training, and career development can help attract and retain employees. Combining compensation with development opportunities allows employees to see a future at private companies that public companies may not offer.

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How to Succeed at AI Strategy and Implementation

Chief Executive Group and Cherry Bekaert convened a roundtable discussion of a dozen CEOs in Nashville in November 2023. The roundtable participants represented a range of industries, from consulting and professional services to software, and more. They talked through their expectations, experiences and challenges with AI. The following report describes the methodology for creating an effective AI strategy and provides examples of successful practical applications of AI.

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Future Proofing Your Workforce

To address the mammoth challenges of post-pandemic turnover and a talent pipeline shortage, healthcare leaders need a new approach to workforce planning that considers talent needs both in the short-term as well as over the next five to 10 years. At a recent roundtable co-sponsored by Chief Executive and Pearl Meyer, industry
executives discussed the best way to develop that strategy.

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Competing on Compensation as a Private Company

Compared with their public company peers, private company CEOs enjoy far greater flexibility in executive compensation program design. At the same time, freedom from restrictive regulations and disclosure requirements comes with a flip side: lack of access to the power of publicly traded equity-based pay as a recruitment and retention tool.

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Chief Executive Group

Chief Executive Group exists to improve the performance of U.S. CEOs, senior executives and public-company directors, helping you grow your companies, build your communities and strengthen society. Learn more at chiefexecutivegroup.com.

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Roundtable

Strategic Planning Workshop

1:00 - 5:00 pm

Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process

Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:

  1. Lack of systematic approach (70%)
  2. Laundry lists without prioritization (68%)
  3. Decisions based on personalities rather than facts and information (65%)

 

Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns.  They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning.  Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process.  This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented.  If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form.  The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.

New York, NY: ​​​Chief Executive's Corporate Citizenship Awards 2017

Women in Leadership Seminar and Peer Discussion

2:00 - 5:00 pm

Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations. 

Limited space available.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $495 will be added to your total.

Golf Outing

10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS

General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.

The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.

To sign up, select this option in your registration form. Additional fee of $295 will be added to your total.