While companies and governments worldwide grappled with a hacking scare last week, a KPMG survey found that nearly a third of African CEOs cited cybersecurity and data security, with supply-chain resilience, as leading threats to growth
The publication of KPMG’s “2026 Africa CEO outlook” coincided on Thursday with a global scramble by companies and governments to patch critical vulnerabilities in PHP, a widely used programming language, after a cybersecurity firm reported millions of hacking attempts following their disclosure
Governments in Europe and elsewhere, including South Africa, took their websites offline as a precaution, while website operators scrambled to secure systems running the software
The KPMG report forms part of its global CEO Outlook, based on a survey of 1,400 CEOs worldwide, including 176 in Africa, conducted between August 11 and September 21. It examines the priorities shaping business leadership across Africa, from investment and growth expectations to emerging risks, AI, talent and sustainability
About 45% of CEOs on the continent are increasing investment in cybersecurity and digital-risk resilience, 36% in regulatory compliance and reporting, and 31% in AI integration
Thirty-one percent of these company heads identify cybersecurity and data security as a threat to growth, while 27% cite AI integration as a growth threat, and 31% are increasing investment in integrating AI into operations
AI remains a strategic investment priority, with 72% of African CEOs identifying it as a top priority, compared with 79% globally. Yet only 14% believe their organisations are keeping pace with or moving ahead of AI developments, against 66% of CEOs worldwide
Last year a cybersecurity platform said cyberattacks on African organisations had surged past global averages, placing the continent firmly in the crosshairs of the world’s most dangerous threat actors. In the first quarter of 2025 alone Africa experienced 3,286 attacks per organisation per week, the world’s highest average of any region, said Check Point Software
In July, an IMF paper said AI could boost the economy of Sub-Saharan Africa, which ranks lowest on its AI preparedness index, by about 4% over the next decade with better electricity supply, internet access and digital skills. However, without such reforms, the growth dividend could be negligible
Across Africa 85% of CEOs report organisational concern about the environmental impact of increased AI use, with the level of concern particularly high in West Africa and Southern Africa, KPMG says
In addition, African CEOs anticipate longer timeframes for returns from AI investment. Forty-eight percent expect returns in one to three years, compared with 71% globally, while 42% expect returns beyond three years, versus 12% worldwide
“For CEOs the imperative is to align AI investment with clearly defined business outcomes, supported by modern infrastructure, trusted information and effective oversight. The strongest returns are likely to come from solutions that are embedded in workflows, not isolated from them,” the report says
Despite the growing role of AI in business operations, 84% of African CEOs expect headcount to increase over the next three years, compared with 89% globally
A total 86% intend to retain and retrain high-potential employees, 82% are redesigning roles, career paths and team structures for human-AI collaboration, 74% are hiring AI and technology talent, while 56% anticipate reductions in selected workforce areas, compared with 52% globally
“Rather than being contradictory, these findings point to a rebalancing of the workforce. Organisations are investing in existing talent and building AI capabilities, while selectively reducing roles in areas where workforce needs are changing,” the report says
“The strategic opportunity lies in managing the transition by deliberately identifying which activities to automate, which roles to augment and where people should be redeployed.”
Skills remain a significant constraint, with 59% identifying workforce skills gaps, 58% citing AI upskilling and training, and 52% pointing to challenges in attracting and retaining talent
Most African CEOs — 66% — are confident in the global economy, broadly in line with the global benchmark of 65%, while confidence in their domestic economies is even higher at 72%, and 79% are confident in the growth prospects of their own organisations
The continent’s energy real to develop local manufacturing and value chains position it to benefit from changes in global investment and supply-chain strategies
Realising this potential however, rests on infrastructure, reliable energy, skills, connectivity and predictable regulatory environments, KPMG says