Nearly 2,000 American CEOs Quit in 2024, Setting New Record

California and New York saw the most departures.

Patrick Gelsinger, CEO of Intel Corp., speaks during a panel session on day three of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. The annual Davos gathering of political leaders, top executives, and celebrities runs from May 22 to 26. Photographer: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg via Getty Images

CEOs have been exiting from U.S. companies in 2024 at a greater pace than ever before, with businesses increasingly opting to appoint interim leaders as replacements, according to global outplacement company Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.

As of Nov., 1,991 CEOs have departed from their companies, “the highest total on record,” according to a Dec. 20 report from the company.