Return to Normalcy Expected Only in 2022: KMPG CEO Survey

KPMG has conducted a survey, taking into account the views of 500 CEOs in 11 key markets (Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Spain, the UK, and the US), and has come to a conclusion that close to half of the global executives believe that they do not expect normalcy to return this year. The KPMG survey is called the 2021 CEO Outlook Pulse Survey. It was conducted in February and March 2021.

According to the 2021 CEO Outlook Pulse Survey, the CEOs of the world’s leading companies believe that normalcy is expected to return only in 2022 as their workforces will potentially have difficulty accessing the COVID-19 vaccine. The survey says that 45% of the participants (CEOs) have said that return to normal will not occur this year.

“Before any major decisions are made, CEOs want to be confident that their workforce is protected against this virus. The COVID-19 vaccine rollout is providing leaders with a dose of optimism as they prepare for a new reality. CEOs are scenario planning for certain key markets that may experience vaccine shortages that could impact their operations, supply chains and people, leading to uneven economic recovery,” Bill Thomas, Global Chairman and CEO of KPMG.

The 2021 Pulse Survey intended to provide an insight on the CEO’s views on business growth resumption, their views on vaccine distribution, their top-of-mind organizational risks, and business transformation priorities going forward.