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.
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.
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.
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.
Board members are asking about it. Employees are experimenting with it. Competitors are talking about it—sometimes loudly. And yet, behind the scenes, many leadership teams are still trying to answer a much more basic question: What, exactly, should we be doing with AI right now?
In an era of relentless, rapid change, an effective CEO-board partnership has never been more critical—or more complex. To achieve one that delivers real strategic value, CEOs are finding ways to strengthen composition, deepen trust and foster collaboration.
The following report describes the methodology for creating an effective AI strategy and provides examples of successful practical applications of AI.
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.
New data from Chief Executive’s Financial Performance Benchmark Report reveals nearly one-third of companies are already using AI to reduce headcount, even as 53 percent plan to expand their workforce in 2026.
After ending 2025 on an upswing, manufacturing CEOs open the new year with fading confidence, driven by tariff uncertainty and mounting cost pressures, even as recession fears ease.
After two decades of New Year optimism, America’s chief executives are starting 2026 with unusual caution, as policy uncertainty clouds business outlook. ‘Uncertainty is the new certainty.’
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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:
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.
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.
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.
