The 2026 CEO & Board Confidence Monitor by Heidrick & Struggles International, Inc. found that the Asia Pacific (APAC) region reports strong confidence in their ability to navigate issues such as artificial intelligence and cybersecurity risk.
“The breadth of what is landing on leadership agendas across APAC right now is significant. The real test for leaders is carrying the weight of today’s volatility while simultaneously transforming for what comes next,” said Jiat-Hui Wu, partner-in-charge at Heidrick & Struggles Singapore.
Significant issues in APAC
Based on responses from 254 leaders in the region, the report found that artificial intelligence and economic uncertainty were each cited by 44% of respondents as among the most significant issues their organisations expect to face in 2026. Some 39% cited cybersecurity risk, above the global average of 31%.
APAC leaders reported the highest confidence among the five regions surveyed in their ability to manage AI risks. Half of respondents said they were confident in handling AI, compared with a global average of 39%. Confidence in managing cybersecurity risk was also higher at 55%, compared with 51% globally.
While 75% of respondents are confident in their executive teams for 2026, only 55% trust board evaluation and refreshment practices.
“Confidence in today’s leadership is just part of the picture. Even as organisations grow more confident in managing technological risk, a more uncertain geopolitical environment is testing leadership readiness,” said Guy Farrow, regional managing partner of the CEO & Board of Directors Practice for Asia Pacific and the Middle East at Heidrick & Struggles.
He added that organisations need to strengthen governance structures as geopolitical uncertainty and technology disruption continue to test leadership readiness.
