Earn
How to become CEO
Studying a science degree, working abroad, studying at the University of New South Wales and being in the power age (Gen X) are the characteristics of Australia’s most powerful people, according to new research.

How to become CEO
Studying a science degree, working abroad, studying at the University of New South Wales and being in the power age (Gen X) are the characteristics of Australia’s most powerful people, according to new research.

In analysis from Apollo Communications, the characteristics of Australia’s ASX 50 CEOs highlighted that for employees who do want the top job, loyalty is key, with two in three promotions coming from within.
Social media
Spending less time on social media and potentially deactivating accounts could help land the top job.
Australian CEOs are not active social media users, according to the data, with 34 per cent having no presence on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook, despite it being a popular communication choice for consumers.
Despite this, the report found that LinkedIn remains the most popular social media platform for Australia’s leading business people, with 33 out of the 50 CEOs having a LinkedIn account.
The only two users of Facebook in the list were reported as being Shayne Elliott (ANZ) and Rob Wheals (APA), with the latter not using social media for work purposes.
Twitter was found to fare marginally better than Facebook, with 10 per cent of CEOs using the service.
None of the ASX 50 CEOs have a presence on Instagram.
Multiculturalism works
The report went on to reveal that being born in Australia or abroad makes little difference to the chances of landing a CEO role, with 24 out of the 50 on the list being noted as born overseas.
These include:
- Italy’s Francesco de Ferrari (AMP)
- New Zealand’s Shayne Elliott (ANZ)
- Vietnam’s Jack Truong (James Hardie)
- India’s Sandeep Biswas (Newcrest Mining)
- Columbia’s Alberto Calderon (Orica)
- South Africa’s Brad Banducci (Woolworths)
Power age
The analysis also found that there is an ideal age to become a CEO, which currently sits around the 50 years of age mark.
Australia’s forgotten generation – Generation X – has quietly taken over the running of the country from the last of the Baby Boomers in the last 12 months, the report said, with the average age of corporate leaders now 54 and born in 1965.
In comparison, the report revealed that the average age of CEOs sits at 58 years old in the United States.
About the author

About the author


Salary
Employers scrambling to prevent workplace brain drain
As workplace managers face a swiftly evolving employment market that’s increasingly favouring the demands of white-collar employees and jobseekers, bosses are falling under mounting pressure to pres...Read more

Salary
Unions back Albanese’s pledge to close gender pay gap
An electoral promise from Labor to make gender pay equity an objective of the Fair Work Act has been hailed as a “watershed moment” from industry peak bodies who have traditionally advocated for s...Read more

Salary
Coles asked to disprove $115m in alleged wage theft
One of Australia’s biggest supermarkets faces allegations that it underpaid more than 7,500 employees a total of $115 million. ...Read more

Salary
Gen Z left behind in progress to gender equality
Women under 25 may emerge from the pandemic in a worse financial position than when it began, new research has shown. ...Read more

Salary
Show me the money: I deserve a COVID recognition payment, and so do you
Staff are currently in high demand. But they’re also mostly overworked, overtired, underplayed and underpaid. ...Read more

Salary
Is Australia headed for the ‘Great Resignation’?
A wave of resignations from Australian workers is expected in the next six months. ...Read more

Salary
Earnings surge in lockdown, but is a slump ahead?
A new report from CBA has shown that it may actually pay to be in lockdown, as growth in household income surged ahead in NSW and Victoria. ...Read more

Salary
RBA sets sights on 4% unemployment
The RBA has updated its key objectives in order to jolt the Australian economy into growth, including a two-decade low unemployment rate of 4 per cent. ...Read more

Wrapping up an eventful 2021
Listen now

What Omicron means for property, and are units right for first-time buyers? What is equity crowdfunding? Are industry super funds tapping into member funds to save their skins?
Listen now

Will housing affordability improve in 2022? Will buy now, pay later become the norm? Why are Aussies staying in failing super products?
Listen now

Who really benefits from crypto ETFs? How will the RBA respond to rising inflation? Could a mandate help address unpaid super?
Listen now

Salary
Employers scrambling to prevent workplace brain drain
As workplace managers face a swiftly evolving employment market that’s increasingly favouring the demands of white-collar employees and jobseekers, bosses are falling under mounting pressure to pres...Read more

Salary
Unions back Albanese’s pledge to close gender pay gap
An electoral promise from Labor to make gender pay equity an objective of the Fair Work Act has been hailed as a “watershed moment” from industry peak bodies who have traditionally advocated for s...Read more

Salary
Coles asked to disprove $115m in alleged wage theft
One of Australia’s biggest supermarkets faces allegations that it underpaid more than 7,500 employees a total of $115 million. ...Read more

Salary
Gen Z left behind in progress to gender equality
Women under 25 may emerge from the pandemic in a worse financial position than when it began, new research has shown. ...Read more

Salary
Show me the money: I deserve a COVID recognition payment, and so do you
Staff are currently in high demand. But they’re also mostly overworked, overtired, underplayed and underpaid. ...Read more

Salary
Is Australia headed for the ‘Great Resignation’?
A wave of resignations from Australian workers is expected in the next six months. ...Read more

Salary
Earnings surge in lockdown, but is a slump ahead?
A new report from CBA has shown that it may actually pay to be in lockdown, as growth in household income surged ahead in NSW and Victoria. ...Read more

Salary
RBA sets sights on 4% unemployment
The RBA has updated its key objectives in order to jolt the Australian economy into growth, including a two-decade low unemployment rate of 4 per cent. ...Read more