Notably, 23 CEOs fall within the 31–35-year experience bracket. However, as with any average, there are some outliers. Startup AZ found that two leaders have under 10 years of experience; George Weston of Associated British Foods stepped into the CEO position with 10 years of prior experience, while Frank van Zanten of Bunzl took the helm with just 9 years under his belt, proving that, in some cases, swift rises to the top do happen.

How many roles does it take to become a CEO?

It's a common thought that loyalty should be rewarded, especially in the corporate world. But does this hold true at the very top?

Startup AZ data shows 29 out of the 100 current FTSE CEOs were appointed directly into the chief executive role, without having occupied any prior positions within that specific company.

This suggests that for nearly a third of the UK's top firms, the search for leadership talent extends beyond internal candidates, often favouring external expertise and a fresh perspective.

Are you rewarded for length of service?

Does a lengthy tenure genuinely lead to the top job, or is it more about rapid ascent?

Startup AZ findings paint an interesting picture: a significant chunk of top executives are relatively new to their corner offices. 30 CEOs have been with their companies for five years or less. This suggests that reaching the pinnacle doesn't necessarily require decades of loyal service, and in many cases, fresh perspectives and external experience are seen as valuable assets at the executive level.