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New Survey from DSG Global by The Harris Poll Identified Biggest Challenges and Concerns Facing Today’s CHROs

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61% of HR Decision Makers Say Corporate Boards Have Too Much Power in Driving Talent Strategy

79% Say CHRO Roles Are Increasing in Importance Against Backdrop of the Current Political Climate

61% of HR Decision Makers Say Corporate Boards Have Too Much Power in Driving Talent Strategy

79% Say CHRO Roles Are Increasing in Importance Against Backdrop of the Current Political Climate

61% of HR Decision Makers Say Corporate Boards Have Too Much Power in Driving Talent Strategy

79% Say CHRO Roles Are Increasing in Importance Against Backdrop of the Current Political Climate

“The role of the CHRO is being re-defined and is often being relabeled as the Chief People Officer across Corporate America today,“ said Aileen Alexander, CEO of DSG Global. “Once defined primarily by administrative HR expertise, the CHRO is expected to function as a true enterprise leader—collaborating with the C-suite and the Board to ensure the talent strategy and company culture aligns with the business goals while also often owning internal communications, playing a pivotal role in technology decisions and leading on succession planning and best practices around inclusion.”

The survey found that nearly two in three HR decision makers are very or somewhat concerned about succession planning [66%], with one in four saying they are very concerned. Majorities are also very or somewhat concerned about their organization’s leadership pipeline [57%], incorporating DEI into their organization’s culture [52%], and the expanded role of boards in determining talent strategy [51%]. The rate of CEO transitions and turnover were less of a concern [39%].

“Talent and culture are what sets a company apart and provides a real competitive advantage. As few other roles have such a unique and multi-disciplinary perspective, it’s imperative that today’s CHROs have a seat at the table as well as in the board room to help drive their organization’s business goals. This is a key moment for the CHRO, and luckily, they are up for the task. ”

AILEEN K. ALEXANDER

Additionally, our survey found that HR decision makers cite talent strategy [70%], including acquisition/hiring and retention, and benefits strategy [58%], such as health insurance and 401K, among the top three challenges they face when it comes to their HR responsibilities, with another nearly two in five [38%] citing the impact of AI on workflows (i.e., digitization). Notably, decision makers at larger—(1,000+ employees) or higher revenue ($100M+) companies are more likely than their respective counterparts to cite senior leadership turnover and rate of CEO transitions as challenges.

Other notable findings include: 68% of HR decision makers agreed that frequent turnover/transition in C-Suite roles creates uncertainty for other workers/employees and another 75% indicated that responsibility for DEI is shifting to being embedded in the company/corporate culture.

“Talent and culture are what sets a company apart and provides a real competitive advantage. As few other roles have such a unique and multi-disciplinary perspective, it’s imperative that today’s CHROs have a seat at the table as well as in the board room to help drive their organization’s business goals. This is a key moment for the CHRO, and luckily, they are up for the task,” added Alexander.

For more information and resources, visit www.dsgco.com.

Survey Methodology

This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of DSG Global from September 24 – October 1, 2025, among 310 U.S. adults aged 21+ who are employed full-time, as human resources (HR) decision-makers (director level or higher) at their current company (“HR decision makers”). The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the full sample data is accurate to within +/- 5.7 percentage points using a 95% confidence level.

About DSG Global (Diversified Search Group)

DSG Global is an award-winning executive search and consulting firm that partners with clients to cultivate the talent and leadership they need to navigate today and thrive tomorrow. With broad expertise and a commitment to long-term partnership, we help organizations reach their full human potential and stay ahead in a rapidly evolving world.

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