“The outlook is clear: resilience and innovation will define Africa’s growth story.” (Ignatius Sehoole, CEO of KPMG South Africa)
“A continent brimming with optimism.” This is how KPMG’s 11th Africa CEO Outlook describes Africa.
Among the African CEOs surveyed, 63% expressed optimism about their country’s growth prospects and 78% expressed strong business confidence. Over the short term, 98% expect business expansion and 86% are likely to pursue acquisitions.
“African CEOs are not only adapting to global challenges but are actively investing in the future through AI, talent, and sustainable growth strategies,” explains Ignatius Sehoole, CEO of KPMG South Africa.
Most CEOs globally (79%) also say they are optimistic about their own organisations’ prospects and the majority anticipate rising revenues over the next three years.
Like their African counterparts, they are doubling down on AI, talent investment and ESG as the keys to resilience and growth.
Common challenges & shared priorities
CEOs, globally and in Africa, face very similar challenges. This has made them more deliberate when deciding how to channel their resources.
Investment priorities for global and Africa CEOs
| Africa | Global | |
|---|---|---|
| Cybersecurity and digital risks resilience | 45% | 39% |
| AI integration into operations and workflow | 41% | 34% |
| Investing in solution and technology innovation for business expansion | 34% | 26% |
| Regulatory compliance and reporting | 31% | 36% |
| Supply chain resilience and operational continuity | 24% | 28% |
| Climate and sustainability initiatives | 23% | 16% |
| AI governance, ethics and responsible use | 20% | 20% |
| Geopolitical monitoring and analysis | 20% | 23% |
Source: 2025 Africa CEO Outlook – KPMG South Africa
In addition, in Africa, CEOs are increasingly prioritising intra-African trade and market expansion on the continent.
AI: Top 2026 strategic priority
For African and global CEOs heading into 2026, AI is a top strategic priority.
26% of African CEOs plan to allocate more than 20% of their annual budget to AI in the next 12 months, almost twice the global average of 14%.
This high level of investment by African CEOs reflects a shift in mindset, with AI being viewed not only as a tool for future growth, but as an immediate lever for operational efficiency, better decision-making, and long-term resilience.
To deploy and scale AI, African organisations are faced with three options: build, buy or partner. “Each organisation must weigh the pros and cons of building, buying, or partnering for AI solutions. There is no one-size-fits-all-approach. The right strategy depends on the organisation’s existing capabilities, risk appetite and strategic objectives,” explains Joelene Pierce, CEO Designate of KPMG South Africa.
Talent in the age of AI
Among African CEOs surveyed, 88% expect to increase headcount over the next year and 62% are focusing on retaining and re-training high-potential talent. The majority (81%) believe that upskilling in AI will directly impact their success and more than two thirds (67%) are redeploying staff into AI enabled roles.
These numbers, too, closely reflect global perspectives, with 92% of CEOs expecting to increase headcount next year, and 77% agreeing that AI upskilling will directly impact business success. Already, 71% are focusing on retaining and retraining high-potential talent, and 59% are redeploying staff into AI enabled roles.
ESG and sustainability
Despite regulatory complexity, African CEOs remain committed to Environmental, Social, and Governance goals. Almost half (46%) are aligning sustainability goals with core business strategies, 51% are prioritising compliance and reporting, and 74% are using AI to reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency.
Globally CEOs are also indicating rising confidence in meeting climate targets, with 61% saying they are on track to hit their 2030 net zero targets. In addition, 65% indicate that they have fully embedded sustainability into their business and believe it is critical to their long-term success.
Confident resilience
Most CEOs (59%) say that expectations and complexity of their roles have evolved significantly in the last five years, and 80% feel under more pressure to ensure long-term business prosperity.
Yet, even with change and challenge as the “new normal”, CEOs are actively building resilience by investing in AI, talent, and sustainable growth strategies, and are moving forward confidently to greater success in the year ahead.
Disclaimer: The information provided herein should not be used or relied on as professional advice. No liability can be accepted for any errors or omissions nor for any loss or damage arising from reliance upon any information herein. Always contact us for specific and detailed advice.
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