AI tops APAC CEOs’ agenda, while confidence in navigating disruption hits three-year high: Survey

More than three-quarters (78%) rated their organisations highly on readiness to adapt, up sharply from just 31% in 2024.

Artificial intelligence (AI) has overtaken geopolitical instability and economic uncertainty as the most critical challenge facing CEOs across Asia Pacific, yet the region’s business leaders are increasingly confident in their organisations’ ability to navigate disruption.

According to Egon Zehnder’s latest global CEO survey, The CEO Response, 94% of APAC chief executives consider AI a critical or existentially critical challenge, slightly above the global average of 91%. Just 6% described AI as less critical, the lowest proportion recorded for any challenge in the region.

Geopolitical instability followed at 89%, while 85% cited economic uncertainty. Nearly three-quarters (73%) also expect geopolitical disruption to increase over the next 12 months, compared with 62% globally.

Despite the uncertain outlook, confidence in organisational preparedness has risen sharply. More than three-quarters (78%) of APAC CEOs rated their organisation’s readiness to adapt at seven or above on a 10-point scale, up from 31% in 2024 and 62% in 2025. Globally, the equivalent figure fell from 64% in 2025 to 58% in 2026.

The 2026 study surveyed 843 CEOs worldwide, including 70 from Asia Pacific.

AI becomes part of a broader innovation agenda

As they navigate disruption, APAC CEOs appear to be approaching AI as part of a broader transformation agenda.

When asked about major organisational changes underway, 54% of APAC CEOs cited innovation, compared with 48% globally, while 43% pointed to investment in AI, versus 50% globally. New strategic alliances and partnerships ranked third among APAC leaders at 37%, compared with 30% globally.

Leadership capabilities matter alongside technology

The findings also highlighted the importance APAC CEOs place on strengthening leadership capabilities as they navigate uncertainty.

An overwhelming 96% believe success will depend on strengthening both inner capabilities, including self-awareness, resilience, curiosity, learning agility and emotional range, and outer capabilities, such as business acumen, enterprise judgement and functional expertise. Globally, 85% shared this view.

APAC CEOs also appear to place greater emphasis on external relationships. Informal CEO networks were identified as an important alliance by 72% of respondents, compared with 47% globally, while 41% valued public-private partnerships, versus 32% worldwide. More than half (56%) also said business alliances have grown more important over the past year, against 45% globally.

The lead image is generated by AI