CEOs question HR's proxy metrics, demand proof of business impact

Based on a 2026 report by Heidrick & Struggles on ‘Chief HR officer focus: What high-performing CEOs want from their CHROs’, the number of skills that CEOs are looking for in their head of HR has climbed from roughly 8.6 in 2016 to nearly 13.0 in 2026. CEOs have also increased the span of control of their CHROs.