After a period of economic uncertainty, executive hiring activity across Australia and New Zealand is showing signs of resilience. While overall CEO and General Management job volumes softened through mid-2026, organisations continue to invest in leadership capability as they prepare for growth, transformation, succession planning, and operational excellence. 

Our latest SEEK data shows that across the first 9 months of 2026 more than 4,000 executive and general management opportunities were advertised across ANZ, with Australia accounting for 74% of market activity and New Zealand representing a significant 26%. March recorded the strongest hiring activity across the region, while New Zealand experienced a notable resurgence through the third quarter (July-Sept), despite broader market caution. 

For employers, this presents an interesting challenge. 

Whilst job volumes have eased, demand for proven executive capability has not disappeared. Boards, CEOs and senior leadership teams remain highly selective, seeking leaders who can navigate complexity, drive performance, and deliver sustainable growth in increasingly competitive markets. 

As a result, the most sought-after executives are often not actively applying for roles. They are leading businesses, driving transformation programmes, and delivering commercial outcomes within their current organisations. 

Leadership Appointments Have Never Been More Critical

Executive recruitment has evolved beyond simply finding candidates with the right technical experience. 

Today's organisations are looking for leaders who can:

• Build high-performing teams 
• Lead through economic and organisational change 
• Drive innovation and transformation 
• Create strong stakeholder alignment 
• Deliver long-term commercial outcomes 

Finding these individuals requires a deliberate and proactive approach that extends well beyond traditional recruitment channels. 

Brisbane’s Jordan Honess said, "Across both Australia and New Zealand we are seeing businesses take a more strategic approach to leadership hiring. Organisations are increasingly placing greater emphasis on succession planning, leadership capability and long-term value creation, which is driving demand for experienced executives who can deliver measurable impact from day one." 

At Stellar Executive Search, we partner closely with organisations across Australia and New Zealand to identify, engage and secure senior leadership talent through a tailored executive search process designed to access the market's most capable leaders. 

An Increasingly Mobile Executive Market 

SEEK's latest data also highlights strong candidate mobility across New Zealand, with significant movement between major centres including Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury. Senior leaders are increasingly considering opportunities based on strategic impact, culture, flexibility, and long-term career growth rather than geography alone. 

This creates new opportunities for organisations willing to broaden their search and engage executive talent on a national or trans-Tasman basis. 

Auckland based Division manager, Heath Brown said, "The organisations consistently attracting exceptional leadership talent are those with a clear vision, a compelling growth story and a genuine commitment to culture. Executive candidates want to understand not only where a business is today, but where it is heading over the next three to five years. These are the drivers in which we are seeing strong leaders move.” 

Looking Ahead 

As market conditions continue to evolve, leadership quality will remain a key differentiator for organisations seeking sustainable growth. 

The right leadership appointment can shape the future of an organisation. 

If you are looking to strengthen your executive team or would like insight into the current leadership market across Australia and New Zealand, get in touch with the Stellar Executive Search team today.