Shorter C-level job tenures, including in procurement, are following the trend that started with CEOs in the 1980s. Depending on whose research you read, it shows today's North American CEOs in the job between six and seven years. In Europe, this is shorter by about one year. CFOs and chief marketing officers are the sprinters, with averages just shy of three years.
What is happening to the chief purchasing/procurement officers and chief supply/supply management officers? While no reported research is available, the short tenure trend is also happening in supply management. Anecdotally, based on interviews, these professionals tend to move to larger and/or more complex companies that involve much greater spend.
Source: Inside Supply Management