What does it take to reach the top in technology leadership today? Our latest CxO Technology Pathways Report uncovers the data.

Building on last year’s CIO-focused insight, this year we’ve expanded our scope – both geographically and in role coverage – to give a richer picture of digital and technology leadership hiring trends across Europe.

Alongside UK data, this edition covers key European markets, with the UK, Germany, and France unsurprisingly leading the way in appointments, and strong momentum across the Nordics. Emerging activity in markets such as Portugal and Greece also hints at future growth areas.

We’ve also widened our lens to include the full spectrum of technology CxO titles, reflecting the increasingly diverse and fast-evolving digital leadership landscape. The Chief Technology Officer (CTO) role dominated in 2023/24, accounting for the majority of appointments. This shift underlines how the CTO title has become a “catch-all” for digital leadership, particularly in private equity (PE) and digital product-led businesses where technology is central to value creation. Hybrid titles such as CTPO (Chief Technology & Product Officer) are also on the rise.

What the data reveals:

• Nearly half of all appointments were first-time tech CxOs, suggesting growing demand for commercially minded, transformative leaders.
• Technology leadership remains more likely to be filled by external appointments than internal promotions, highlighting a preference for new perspectives.
• Women are still underrepresented in technology leadership roles, but progress is emerging in certain countries and sectors. Mid-career retention and more inclusive succession planning will be critical to accelerate change.
• Appointments typically peak in the early 50s, reflecting a 20–30 year career pathway to the CxO level.
• PE-backed businesses are a major source of opportunity, with just under half of all appointments made in this environment, where technology is a key lever for value creation.

Why this matters:

For aspiring digital and technology leaders, this report offers clarity on what boards are looking for and where the opportunities lie.

For businesses planning their next hire, it provides critical benchmarks across age, sector, gender, and ownership models.

And for investors and advisors, it gives a window into how leadership is evolving in the context of PE, digitalisation, and market shifts.

Whether you’re considering your next move or hiring the next tech leader, this report is designed to help you make informed, forward-looking decisions.

Wherever you are on your CxO Technology journey, please do get in touch, we’d love to talk.

Find out more about our specialist Digital & Technology practice.  

Download our Pathways Report 

Click here to access the full report