The corporate summit today offers not just glorious views, but dizzying heights. According to a 2024 international study, 60% of chief executives experience symptoms linked to burnout, whilst 45% admit that chronic stress is already affecting their decision-making capabilities. This alarming trend serves as a warning: the mental wellbeing of top-tier leaders has reached a critical point.

Why has the CEO role become so demanding?

The modern CEO role is far more complex than it was even a decade ago. Digital transformation, the rise of artificial intelligence, and constant market instability have placed unprecedented burdens on company leaders. Research indicates that 72% of executives feel overwhelmed by the need to keep pace with and understand new technologies. This pressure is only intensified by the ‘AI doomer’ sentiment spreading across industries – the notion that artificial intelligence will simply ‘take our jobs away’.

But technology isn't the only headache. Employee expectations have undergone radical transformation. Today, 55% of workers take it as a given that their company should champion diversity, equality, and mental wellbeing. Generation Z employees, moreover, expect a new kind of leadership: exciting challenges, immediate feedback, flexible working environments – all of which make daily leadership more complex and stressful.

The political climate doesn't make things any easier. A 2025 American survey found that 75% of workers experienced mood disturbances over the past year, primarily attributing this to global political turbulence. This climate inevitably affects leadership decisions as well.

Running on empty – until we burn out

Burnout isn't just widespread; it's an accelerating phenomenon. The 2023 figure of 52% rose to 56% among leaders in 2024, whilst 43% of organisations lost at least half of their leadership teams. The healthcare sector is particularly affected: here, 74% of leaders report extreme stress levels.

Chronic stress has more serious consequences than we might initially think: cognitive performance drops by 20%, which can lead to poorer decisions, reduced innovation, and a tense corporate culture. Commitment also visibly diminishes – by as much as 15% – whilst staff turnover increases.

Not just personal, but economic too

Burnout affects not only the individual but the entire company – economically speaking as well. Mental health issues cost companies more than $322 billion annually in lost productivity. In contrast, workplaces that prioritise mental wellbeing are on average 13% more efficient, and their employees feel significantly less overwhelmed.

What's the solution? Strategy and foresight

Maintaining mental health can be supported on multiple levels. Sleep quality, mindful nutrition, and regular exercise all play key roles in wellbeing. Physical activity, for instance, releases endorphins – 90% of athletes say it improves mood and stress tolerance.

We mustn't forget about professional support either. It's advisable to conduct psychological assessments with occupational health specialists at least every six months, with particular attention to leadership stress factors and coping strategies.

The Sabbatical: a reimagined leadership ritual

More and more companies are recognising that a sabbatical – a longer absence serving personal development and regeneration – isn't a luxury but a long-term investment. This isn't simply an extended holiday, but rather a form of identity redesign, after which leaders can return to work with renewed focus, clearer objectives, and healthier boundary-setting.

Whilst currently only 5% of companies globally offer sabbatical opportunities, the trend is upward. Major corporations such as Intel, Adobe, Deloitte, and Bank of America employ this practice. Patagonia sets an example in corporate social responsibility: it provides paid leave for employees to work temporarily with environmental organisations.

Adaptation: the future leader's survival skill

The record-breaking wave of CEO resignations experienced in early 2025 clearly shows that a new era has begun in leadership. Tomorrow's chief executive must possess not only strategic acumen but mental resilience as well. A CEO's burnout represents not just a human risk but a financial one: an unplanned, forced leadership change can result in shareholder losses of up to $1.8 billion.

Breaking the silence – and the stigma

Mental health remains a taboo subject in the corporate world. According to 81% of CEOs, leaders struggling with mental health issues are often treated as a "burden." However, 90% believe it's essential for senior executives to speak openly about mental wellbeing.

Interim leaders – stability during transition

When a chief executive takes a sabbatical or temporarily steps back, ensuring smooth continuity is crucial. Interim management provides precisely this solution: an experienced external specialist can maintain business momentum whilst the CEO rejuvenates and regains strength.

Interim Ltd. has been supporting its partners for over twenty years in such situations – seemingly crisis-ridden but actually offering opportunities for renewal.