Spencer Stuart study links board-CEO trust to stronger growth performance

Spencer Stuart’s latest global survey of more than 1,400 board chairs, directors and CEOs reveals a "dynamic board advantage" that boosts the odds of hitting growth goals by 60% when boards partner closely with CEOs. Companies with the most collaborative boards report high trust levels—90% say trust is strong—compared with just 24% among low-performing firms. Jordan Brugg, the firm’s CEO, attributes better performance to agile, trust-based relationships that enable quicker, bolder decisions on emerging risks and opportunities.

He cautions that senior leaders and non-executive directors are increasingly moving at different paces, risking misunderstandings amid pressures from AI adoption, activist investors and multigenerational workforce shifts. Brugg emphasizes that alignment should not suppress constructive challenge, and that the lead director’s role is to bridge the CEO’s perspective with the board’s oversight. The interview also notes a slowdown in U.S. board turnover, with few new directors under 50 and many departing in their 50s.