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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.
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