Hospital CEO exits are running 22% ahead of last year’s pace, even as overall CEO turnover across U.S. companies slowed in September, according to an Oct. 27 report from executive outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas.
Five things to know:
1. Hospitals recorded 13 CEO exits in September, down from 15 in August and up from 10 in September 2025, according to the report. Hospitals had the second-most CEO exits of any industry in September, behind government and nonprofit organizations.
2. Through September, hospitals have recorded 116 CEO exits, up 22% from 95 during the same period last year. Hospitals are one of five industries running ahead of last year’s pace. Through August, hospital CEO exits were up 21% year over year.
3. Across all industries, CEO exits fell 40% to 111 in September from 186 in August, the lowest monthly total of 2026. Through the first nine months of the year, 1,337 CEO exits were announced, down 19% from the same period in 2025.
4. Stepping down and retirement were the most common reasons for CEO exits across industries in September, accounting for 54% of departures. Interim CEO exits are up 70% year to date, at 102, already surpassing the 78 recorded in all of 2025.
5. Across industries, companies are increasingly promoting from within. Through September, 53% of replacement CEOs were internal hires, up from 49% during the same period last year. Women accounted for 27.9% of new CEOs year to date, up from 25.1% a year earlier.
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