An emerging trend of hiring relatively younger C-suite executives is getting stronger for India Inc. Top company executives, board members from large Indian conglomerates and executive search experts said post-pandemic, there is an increasing emphasis by old economy companies to hire younger CEOs/CXOs, a preference earlier seen mostly at startups and new age tech companies. They want people who can put in more years in the role, have greater adaptability, are tech savvy with skills in niche domains and more empathetic than hard taskmasters to negotiate through rapidly changing economic and business dynamics. Those aged above the “sweet spot” may not tick all these boxes.

As per industry experts, while startups have some of the youngest CXOs, even mature businesses like manufacturing have shifted from skills such as labour management and cost control to innovation, technology, AI and customer centricity. Due to the higher focus on runway for leaders, the sweet spot for the CXO age bracket is 45-50 years and for CEOs 48-54 years is acceptable, with a preference for leaders under 50.

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