As a complement to our analysis of Executive-level roles, we are launching a new biannual publication focused on the recruitment dynamics of CODIR (Executive Committees) and COMEX (Management Committees) members.
For this first edition, our observations for the first half of 2025 reveal several key trends:
- Companies operating in sectors linked to essential needs have been the most active. The infrastructure and energy sector leads with 50% of assignments, followed by retail at 25% — including both food and, more unexpectedly, luxury goods. The healthcare sector (notably pharmaceuticals) accounts for 17%, while consulting rounds out the list with 8%.
- Mid-sized companies (ETIs) account for 67% of observed recruitment activity, compared to 25% for large groups, which are slowing external hiring in favor of internal mobility — or even staff reductions. Scale-ups represent 8% of the assignments.
- Business Unit Directors and Sales Directors dominate the market, each representing 42% of recruitments. They are followed by Technical Directors (16%). The finance function stands out in interim management, representing 80% of assignments in that category. These figures reflect clear priorities: boosting sales and optimizing operational performance.
Finally, two major trends continue to shape the first half of 2025:
- A persistent reluctance among companies to recruit, due to continued global and national economic uncertainty.
- A growing difficulty in attracting and retaining talent, as expectations regarding salary, flexibility, career progression, and managerial transparency rise.
Richard Lacroix,
Fitch Bennett Partners
