When a CFO leaves a company — whether by resignation, retirement, or termination — the clock starts immediately. CFO turnover hit a seven-year high in 2025, making succession planning more critical than ever. As a consequence, demand for highly skilled interim CFOs remains high.
A whopping 262 CFOs left their jobs globally in 2025, continuing a multi-year trend of high turnover. In the S&P 500 alone, CFO turnover surged to a record 106 appointments in 2025, up sharply from 89 the year prior.
According to the management consulting firm Russel Reynolds Associates, which keeps track of CFO comings and goings, “Global CFO appointments reached a seven-year high in 2025, with 316 incoming CFOs (+10% YoY) and 12% above the seven-year average of 281 appointments. This continued upward trajectory is a clear signal that elevated CFO churn is now a persistent feature of today’s governance landscape.”
That means even big public companies are at risk of CFO turnover, whether by resignation, retirement, or termination, and every company needs a strong succession plan to ensure continuity in financial leadership.









