""AI is changing the CEO's role-and could lead to a changing of the guard," is a Fortune feature by my colleague Phil Wahba. He points out that Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, for example, has had an extremely successful run-12 years in the corner office-with shares rising about elevenfold during his tenure. Microsoft has also joined the elite group of companies valued above $3 trillion. But Wahba argues that Nadella won't remain relevant or effective if he doesn't stay on top of AI and its sweeping impact on the industry-and neither will his peers in any sector."
""This new reality is taking shape as several of the most high-profile Silicon Valley CEOs are extending their tenures into their second decades," Wahba writes. They include 53‑year‑old Sundar Pichai (roughly 11 years as Google CEO and about seven heading its parent, Alphabet) and Apple's 65‑year‑old Tim Cook (14 years as CEO). "It's becoming clearer that AI will play a major role in how much longer these CEOs remain at the top," he writes."
"According to Crist Kolder Associates' 2025 Volatility Report, CFO-to-CEO promotions among Fortune 500 and S&P 500 companies reached a decade high of 10.26% last year, up from 6.15% in 2015. CFOs also often take on a president role as part of the CEO pathway. Michael J. Cavanagh joined Comcast Corporation as CFO in 2015, was promoted to president in 2022, and began his tenure as co‑CEO in January 2026, serving alongside Brian L. Roberts. Comcast is upgrading its technology over several years, using AI and machine learning and converting its network to software"
AI adoption and expertise are becoming central determinants of CEO effectiveness and longevity across industries. Long-serving tech CEOs such as Satya Nadella, Sundar Pichai and Tim Cook have extended tenures, but continued relevance depends on staying current with AI's sweeping impact. CFO-to-CEO promotions have risen, with Crist Kolder Associates reporting a decade-high 10.26% rate in 2025 among Fortune 500 and S&P 500 firms. Many CFOs follow a pathway through president roles before becoming CEOs, as exemplified by Michael J. Cavanagh at Comcast. Companies are upgrading technology stacks, adopting AI and machine learning, and converting networks to software.
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