Rise in AI tests, psychometric screening slow C-suite hiring

The shift marks a departure from the aggressive expansion seen in previous years

- Devina Sengupta

The era of rapid-fire executive poaching is cooling, as corporate India enters a period of deep caution.

For senior and middle management, the path to a new corner office in 2026 will be defined by gruelling vetting processes, artificial intelligence (AI) litmus tests, and a ‘last-in, first-out’ anxiety that is keeping potential candidates from jumping ship.

The shift marks a departure from the aggressive expansion seen in previous years. Executive search firms said that the timeline to close a senior mandate now frequently exceeds six months, as boards prioritize operational resilience over headcount growth.

In a bid to de-risk high-stakes appointments, hiring panels are increasingly looking outside their own industries. The goal is to find "disruptors"—leaders who have navigated market volatility or digital transformation in other sectors and can apply those lessons to new environments.