Running a listed company is a tough gig. Not only are you responsible for what goes on in the various divisions and geographies of your business, but you also have to manage the market's expectations. The latter is becoming an increasingly tricky task. Sometimes even hitting the target you set yourself for revenues or profits can lead to a share price fall if the analysts' consensus has run away with itself.
But being the new boss of a business is - most would likely agree - even tougher. There's the added pressure of everyone looking at you and expecting you not to put a foot wrong. Whether you've been parachuted in to rescue the corporate from implosion or you've been ceremonially handed the baton from an incumbent veteran, there's only one question on investors' minds - can this person deliver?
The new year brought in a whole host of new chief executives and so it seemed sensible to look at some of the more high-profile hires, who they're replacing and what challenges they might face.
We've selected companies that have a fresh face at the top from across a variety of sectors. Each chief executive will not only have challenges to tackle in relation to their individual businesses, but also the pressures of the sectors in which they sit. The retailers are navigating changing consumer habits and the impact the internet is having on footfall; the commodities sector is bracing itself against conditions as harsh as a bad day in the North Sea as the price of their products continues to plummet; and in property there is the task of steering through the next stage in the cycle and dealing with the potential effects of increased government intervention on supply.
The quality of the management team at a company can make the difference between an investor deciding to back a business or not. Their short and long-term goals for the business, alongside their experience and credentials, can be major pillars of an investor's confidence. We'll be watching out for other high-profile changes atop listed businesses and keeping up-to-date with how new chiefs are faring.
