CEO Summit to Tackle Leadership Amid Volatility
The CEO Summit is a not-to-be-missed panel that brings industry leaders together on the ThinkTank stage to tackle a key boardroom question: how do you lead a complex organisation through market volatility?
A centrepiece of the CXO Summit, at the CEO Summit you will find open and honest conversation on topics like growth strategy, innovation at scale, governance and stakeholder trust. You will also hear chief executives sharing what they think sustainable profitability actually looks like when the ground keeps shifting beneath them.
The panel will dig into how top CEOs are squaring short-term performance against long-term transformation, and what that trade-off means for organisational agility and impact across the enterprise.
Beyond the CEO Summit, the CXO Summit runs a packed programme of panels and sessions, including The Future of AI in Marketing; Financing a Sustainable Future; The CHRO Summit; The CFO Summit; The CMO Summit; Willingly… Leadership in Times of Economic Uncertainty and AI Disruption; and The Future of People & Skills.
Catch the CEO Summit on 7 October on the ThinkTank stage, closing out a day packed with high-calibre discussion from leading industry figures.
How market shifts affect chief executives
The urgency behind the CEO Summit's agenda is backed by real data, with recent research showing just how uncertain the current climate feels for execs in the top job. According to a PwC survey of CEOs navigating global markets, only three in 10 currently feel positive about revenue growth for 2026, as many struggle to turn AI investment into tangible returns.
Around 12% of executives surveyed said factors like AI have already helped deliver cost and revenue benefits, showing the technology's growing influence on business performance for some global CEOs this year.
Despite that pocket of optimism, most remain cautious. One in five CEOs say their organisation is exposed to financial loss from tariffs, and 31% cite cyber attacks as a major threat.
In light of these challenges, many CEOs are implementing reinvention measures to ensure growth. 44% of those surveyed expect to invest outside of their current industry – with technology proving the most attractive sector – and 51% plan to make international investments throughout 2026.
Shifts like these reflect a culture of resilience among current CEOs, suggesting that while there is potential for growth, the priority now is to position enterprises for the future, especially as technologies like AI and hurdles like geopolitics continue to be dominant driving forces of change across all industries.
The CEO Summit and other events at the CXO Summit will offer C-suite executives a place to address these market shifts and shared concerns throughout the two-day event, in addition to offering attendees the chance to take part in branded opportunities, workshops and strategy discussion sessions.
The CXO Summit
On 7-8 October, the CXO Summit will take place at Convene 155 Bishopgate in London, bringing together executives and expert speakers across all global industries to explore effective HR, finance, marketing and business strategies.
The event will unite more than 500 executives across all sectors to discuss leadership strategies, network with other industry leaders and explore challenges currently affecting businesses around the world.
C-suite executives who value new perspectives and productive communication will be able to have cross-functional dialogue on areas like capital, performance and brand throughout the event's dedicated CEO, CFO, CHRO and CMO zones.
The summit will feature talks from more than 50 industry speakers, four content zones and four executive workshops.
More information on panels at the CXO Summit, including the CEO Summit, can be found here .
