KPMG's 2026 Africa CEO Outlook found that 31% of African CEOs cited cyber and data security as a threat to growth, while 45% said their companies were increasing investment in cybersecurity and digital-risk resilience.
The report's third edition draws on responses from 176 African chief executives within a global survey of 1,400. KPMG conducted the fieldwork from Aug. 11 to Sept. 21, 2026. Eighty-six percent of African respondents said their companies recorded revenue growth in their most recent financial year, and 79% expressed confidence in their organizations' growth prospects. For the next three years, 58% expected annual earnings growth of at least 2.5%, compared with 68% of respondents worldwide.
Other pressures also appeared in the survey. Supply-chain resilience was cited as a threat to growth by 31% of African CEOs, while 27% pointed to integrating artificial intelligence into operating models and workflows. On investment, 36% said their companies were increasing spending on regulatory compliance and reporting; 31% reported more investment in AI integration.
The report also found a gap between AI's place in investment plans and executives' assessments of readiness. Seventy-two percent named AI a top investment priority, versus 79% globally, but only 14% said their organizations were keeping pace with or ahead of AI developments, compared with 66% worldwide. Forty-two percent expected AI investments to take more than three years to return value, against 12% globally. KPMG's findings on AI priorities and readiness were covered in an earlier EconoTimes story.
Workforce plans showed both expected hiring and anticipated reductions in some areas. KPMG reported that 84% expected headcount to grow over the next three years, while 86% planned to retain and retrain high-potential employees. At the same time, 56% anticipated reductions in selected workforce areas; 59% cited skills gaps and 58% identified AI training and upskilling as challenges.
The figures reflect executives' reported views and intentions. They are not independent assessments of company revenue, security systems or AI performance. KPMG said some percentages may not total 100% because of rounding.
