CEOs Increasingly See Disruption as the Norm and Worry about Ability to Keep Pace with Change, According to AlixPartners’ 2026 Disruption Index

SHANGHAI – February 10, 2026—AlixPartners 7th annual Disruption Index, surveying 3,200 CEOs and senior executives across 11 countries, finds the 2026 disruption index at 70, a three-point decline from last year. Despite the easing, disruption remains intense, with nearly half of executives reporting that their businesses were highly affected over the past 12 months. At the same time, new economic drivers are emerging: AI, business‑model transformation, and geopolitical repositioning are helping the fastest-growing companies to turn disruption into competitive advantage.

Spotlight on China: 

Disruption Eases as Business Leaders Shift to Proactive Adaptation

Among the 11 surveyed countries, China continues to record the highest disruption index globally, at 77. However, executives report feeling less pressure from disruptive forces than in previous years. Down from 83 in 2024 and 81 in 2025, China's disruption index has declined for the third consecutive year, signalling a market that is moving from acute disruption into a phase of adaptation. 

This transition is reflected in executive action: 51% of executives in China—the highest proportion globally—say they have already made significant changes to their business models in response to ongoing challenges, including economic slowdown, geopolitical tensions, and demographic decline. These efforts are mainly aimed at accelerating technology adoption, improving profitability, and expanding into new markets and geographies.

Ignatius Tong, Partner & Managing Director and Co-Leader of Greater China at AlixPartners, said, “Disruption is not a setback — it is a catalyst for growth. Companies in China are demonstrating agility in today’s extraordinary environment, driving some of the world’s most ambitious transformation agendas. Many are extending their vision beyond domestic markets, pursuing overseas expansion as a strategic pathway to unlock new opportunities and fuel sustainable growth.”

Energy and power generation, retail, and financial services emerge as the three most disrupted industries in China this year. The survey also shows a 12% year-on-year decline in disruption index in China’s automotive industry, even as the sector remains the most disrupted industry globally due to slower growth, fierce competition, and persistently high costs.

 

From Promise to Practice: Global Confidence in AI runs high

Eight in ten executives globally say they are optimistic about AI’s long-term impact, with confidence in China even higher, at 90%. 

Heavy investments in AI place China among the global leaders in deployment. 38% of executives in China say they are extremely confident in AI’s potential to drive growth, particularly through the automation of physical processes and the use of robotics – signalling a market that is highly disrupted and increasingly proactive.

Investment momentum is strong. Among the 60% of China executives increasing their digital spending compared with last year, 36% report AI as their biggest focus of investment. Operational automation stands out as a key opportunity as AI becomes increasingly embedded in everyday workflows. 77% of executives highlight the automation of physical processes and expect humanoid robots to be deployed at scale within the next five years

At the same time, global executives are clear-eyed about AI’s workforce implications. 95% of CEOs expect AI to lead to layoffs within the next 5 years, including 44% who project job reductions of 10% or more within their organizations. Concerns are also emerging around over-reliance on the technology, with 38% of executives warning that excessive dependence on AI could erode employees’ critical thinking and problem-solving capabilities.

Stephen Yu, Partner & Managing Director and Co-Leader of Greater China at AlixPartners, said “AI is reshaping the C suite agenda, yet its rapid proliferation brings workforce implication, and concerns over cybersecurity, deepfakes, and misinformation. What distinguishes true AI leaders is their ability to act decisively — embedding clear governance and robust risk management frameworks, while investing in employee resilience to ensure AI is deployed both successfully and responsibly.”

Growth Leaders’ Playbook as Disruption becomes the new Constant

Adapting to disruption is a task for executives around the world. Today’s fastest-growing companies are distinguishing themselves through bold, strategic action in the face of ongoing uncertainty. Rather than waiting for stability or relying on outdated playbooks, these leaders are moving decisively to secure long-term advantage.

• Nearly three-quarters (73%) of global executives have diversified their supplier and trading partner networks to cope with tariffs, compared with 48% of executives in China who have made similar adjustments.
• The transformation extends across every aspect of their business. Growth leaders are evolving their product portfolios and intensifying investment in risk management and regulatory compliance — 59% have boosted compliance spending, and 78% are changing strategies in response to U.S.-China relations, far outpacing their less agile competitors.

 

About AlixPartners

AlixPartners is a results-driven global consulting firm that specializes in helping businesses successfully capitalize on opportunity and address critical challenges. Our clients include companies, corporate boards, law firms, investment banks, private equity firms, and others. Founded in 1981, AlixPartners is headquartered in New York and has offices in more than 25 cities around the world. For more information, visit https://www.alixpartners.com.

 

Contact:

Claire Cheung, AlixPartners
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Kaixuan Liu, Sandpiper
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Estelle Xu, Sandpiper
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