Elevated turnover also comes amid high CEO turnover, evolving CHRO role
Turnover for chief human resources officers (CHROs) globally went above average in the first half of 2026, according to a new report, amid particularly high CEO turnover.
The Global CHRO Turnover Index from Russell Reynolds Associates (RRA) revealed 95 CHROs appointed in H1 2026, representing a turnover of 5.2%.
According to the index, this is above the eight-year H1 average of 93 appointments, and higher than the 79 appointments in H1 2025, and the 64 appointments in H1 2024.
First-time CHROs represented 62.1% of global appointments in H1 2026, higher than the 55.7% in H1 2025, the report revealed.
"The increase suggests that uncertainty has not resulted in a broad shift toward previously proven CHROs," the RRA said in its insights. "Organisations remain willing to appoint leaders whose experience and potential equip them to step into the top people role for the first time."
Meanwhile, organisations globally are divided between internal and external CHRO appointments in H1 2026, with external hires representing 51.6% of appointments.
What's behind the elevated CHRO turnover?
The elevated appointments come in the wake of particularly high CEO turnover, as 234 CEOs left the position in 2025, 21% above the eight-year average.
"CEO transitions are a contributing factor to subsequent CHRO movement, as incoming CEOs may seek a true enterprise business leader, consigliere, and architect for the future of work," the RRA insights read.
The RRA also attributed the elevated CHRO turnover to the changing nature of the role, noting that many organisations expect people leaders to play a central role in enterprise transformation, including organisational design, operating model change, culture, and the workforce implications of AI.
"That can create both push and pull in the CHRO market: organisations may look for different capabilities as their priorities change, while ambitious CHROs may pursue opportunities that offer a broader transformation mandate," the report read.
CHRO appointments at S&P 500
One standout from the findings, however, is the CHRO movement in the S&P 500, where just 39.1% of incoming CHROs were first-timers, its lowest since H1 2019.
This coincides with the "significant slowdown" in S&P 500 CHRO appointments, according to the RRA insights, as H1 appointment activity there fell to 4.6% in 2026, down from 7.8% in H1 2025.
"Taken together, fewer appointments and a greater preference for experienced CHROs suggest that the largest US companies are taking a more cautious approach to CHRO succession than global market overall," the insights read.
The S&P 500 market is also more likely to turn to external hires, as the report found that 65% of incoming S&P 500 CHROs in H1 are external appointments.
"Viewed alongside the preference for previous CHRO experience, the data provides a clearer picture of how some of the largest US organisations are approaching the role," the RRA report read.
"When S&P 500 companies did appoint a new CHRO in H1, they were more likely to look outside the organisation and favour someone who had already held the top people role."
