First launched globally 11 years ago, the KPMG CEO Outlook surveys more than 1,300 global business leaders overseeing companies with revenues of at least US$500M from some of the world’s biggest economies and key industries. In 2025, we surveyed 1,350 global business leaders – including 25 CEOs from Sweden.
Swedish CEOs are setting a distinctive pace in this year’s findings, combining strong investment in artificial intelligence with a sharpened focus on cybersecurity and trust. Four in ten say that AI integration into roles and responsibilities is driving short-term decision-making – more than double the global average of 18 percent. 56 percent will invest in AI integration, and nearly half believe that competition for AI talent will be decisive for organisational success in the coming years. Cybersecurity remains a parallel priority. Ninety-six percent of Swedish CEOs state in the survey that they are concerned about cyber-attacks, and more than half are increasing investments in cyber resilience and protection. Leaders recognise that as technology evolves, governance, ethics and security must evolve with it. Despite this demanding environment, confidence remains high. Sixty-four percent expect growth for their own organisation, seventy-six percent for their industry and sixty-eight percent for Sweden overall – reflecting a market defined by innovation, responsibility and resilience.
Although the world continues to face geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, KPMG’s 11th CEO Outlook shows that leaders are positive, if cautious, about the future.
Despite confidence in the global economy falling to pandemic levels, 79 percent of CEOs are optimistic about their own organizations’ prospects and are strongly backing a combination of investment in AI (71 percent) and retaining and retraining of high-potential talent (71 percent) to sustain and fuel future growth.
Swedish CEOs feel less confident than their global peers about their organization’s prospects (64 percent) which is down slightly from last year (72 percent). AI is a top investment for the Swedish CEOs as well; 72 percent state they have AI as a top investment priority.Â
Most CEOs (72 percent globally, 84 percent Sweden) have already adjusted their growth strategies to tackle ongoing, interconnected challenges. Looking ahead, the majority anticipate rising revenues and an increased workforce over the next three years. Expectations for AI investment returns have also accelerated, with most leaders now predicting results within one to three years — far sooner than the three to five years projected in 2024.
In this complex environment, CEOs acknowledge they must rethink their organizations’ roles and capabilities as well as adapting their growth strategies. Greater agility and faster decision-making (26 percent), transparency in communication (24 percent), and the ability to identify, prioritize and manage risks (23 percent) are seen as the top leadership capabilities needed today. In Sweden, CEOs additionally see the importance of broader digital and technological literacy (40 percent).
In terms of risks, economic uncertainty is seen as the top threat by CEOs — and risk resilience remains an indispensable attribute. This applies across multiple domains including technology (cybersecurity, data protection, ethical use of AI), talent (skills shortages and a pressing upskilling need, especially around AI) and ESG (navigating an increasingly politicized and polarized world, meeting the rising regulatory and reporting requirements relating to sustainability).
It’s a complex picture that is both challenging and energizing CEOs as they pursue growth, organizational prosperity and sustainable practices that will safeguard the business for the long term. The pressures are considerable — but so are the anticipated rewards for those organizations that can grasp the opportunities while tightly managing the risks.
CEOs back their businesses despite economic uncertainty
Amidst ongoing geopolitical volatility, CEOs’ confidence in the global economy has fallen to its lowest level (68 percent) in five years, down from 72 percent a year ago. Despite this dip, they remain positive about the prospects for their own organizations with 61 percent forecasting earnings increases of 2.5 percent or more over the next three years.
Swedish CEOs have a significantly lower confidence in the global economy (40 percent), down from 88 percent a year ago. Despite this dip, 64 percent remain positive about the prospects for their own organizations, and 60 percent of the Swedish CEOs forecast earnings of 2.5 percent or more the coming three years.Â
To mitigate structural risks and ensure competitiveness, CEOs are signaling intent through investment in people, AI, M&A and organizational design. Ninety-two percent of leaders plan to increase headcount, while 69 percent are allocating up to a fifth of their budget on AI. Additionally, 89
Swedish CEOs are setting a distinctive pace in this year’s findings, combining strong investment in artificial intelligence with a sharpened focus on cybersecurity and trust. Four in ten say that AI integration into roles and responsibilities is driving short-term decision-making – more than double the global average of 18 percent. 56 percent will invest in AI integration, and nearly half believe that competition for AI talent will be decisive for organisational success in the coming years. Cybersecurity remains a parallel priority. Ninety-six percent of Swedish CEOs state in the survey that they are concerned about cyber-attacks, and more than half are increasing investments in cyber resilience and protection. Leaders recognise that as technology evolves, governance, ethics and security must evolve with it. Despite this demanding environment, confidence remains high. Sixty-four percent expect growth for their own organisation, seventy-six percent for their industry and sixty-eight percent for Sweden overall – reflecting a market defined by innovation, responsibility and resilience.
Although the world continues to face geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, KPMG’s 11th CEO Outlook shows that leaders are positive, if cautious, about the future.
Despite confidence in the global economy falling to pandemic levels, 79 percent of CEOs are optimistic about their own organizations’ prospects and are strongly backing a combination of investment in AI (71 percent) and retaining and retraining of high-potential talent (71 percent) to sustain and fuel future growth.
Swedish CEOs feel less confident than their global peers about their organization’s prospects (64 percent) which is down slightly from last year (72 percent). AI is a top investment for the Swedish CEOs as well; 72 percent state they have AI as a top investment priority.Â
Most CEOs (72 percent globally, 84 percent Sweden) have already adjusted their growth strategies to tackle ongoing, interconnected challenges. Looking ahead, the majority anticipate rising revenues and an increased workforce over the next three years. Expectations for AI investment returns have also accelerated, with most leaders now predicting results within one to three years — far sooner than the three to five years projected in 2024.
In this complex environment, CEOs acknowledge they must rethink their organizations’ roles and capabilities as well as adapting their growth strategies. Greater agility and faster decision-making (26 percent), transparency in communication (24 percent), and the ability to identify, prioritize and manage risks (23 percent) are seen as the top leadership capabilities needed today. In Sweden, CEOs additionally see the importance of broader digital and technological literacy (40 percent).
In terms of risks, economic uncertainty is seen as the top threat by CEOs — and risk resilience remains an indispensable attribute. This applies across multiple domains including technology (cybersecurity, data protection, ethical use of AI), talent (skills shortages and a pressing upskilling need, especially around AI) and ESG (navigating an increasingly politicized and polarized world, meeting the rising regulatory and reporting requirements relating to sustainability).
It’s a complex picture that is both challenging and energizing CEOs as they pursue growth, organizational prosperity and sustainable practices that will safeguard the business for the long term. The pressures are considerable — but so are the anticipated rewards for those organizations that can grasp the opportunities while tightly managing the risks.
CEOs back their businesses despite economic uncertainty
Amidst ongoing geopolitical volatility, CEOs’ confidence in the global economy has fallen to its lowest level (68 percent) in five years, down from 72 percent a year ago. Despite this dip, they remain positive about the prospects for their own organizations with 61 percent forecasting earnings increases of 2.5 percent or more over the next three years.
Swedish CEOs have a significantly lower confidence in the global economy (40 percent), down from 88 percent a year ago. Despite this dip, 64 percent remain positive about the prospects for their own organizations, and 60 percent of the Swedish CEOs forecast earnings of 2.5 percent or more the coming three years.Â
To mitigate structural risks and ensure competitiveness, CEOs are signaling intent through investment in people, AI, M&A and organizational design. Ninety-two percent of leaders plan to increase headcount, while 69 percent are allocating up to a fifth of their budget on AI. Additionally, 89