Our latest Strategy and Corporate Development Compensation Guide 2025 takes a closer look at what’s happening beneath the surface: from evolving compensation structures and shifting market sentiment, to the roles and sectors now driving the greatest demand.
Since 2019, we have been tracking this space – analysing data from candidates, clients, and active hiring markets to offer a clear view of how Strategy and Corporate Development functions are changing. This year’s findings reveal a sector recalibrating, cautiously optimistic, and quietly competitive.
After a prolonged slowdown, deal activity is picking up – but not evenly. Some sectors are accelerating, others are still catching up, and the way businesses are hiring is changing fast. Interim and transformation roles are rising in prominence, while the demand for strategy consultants and M&A leaders remains strong.
At the same time, compensation trends tell their own story. While headline salaries have held steady, incentives, equity, and long-term value creation are taking centre stage. The guide explores how the smartest employers are reshaping reward structures to attract and retain talent – and how professionals can use this insight to their advantage.
The insights are grounded in data – but they tell a human story too. It’s about how strategy professionals are adapting to uncertainty, finding new paths to impact, and navigating a landscape that continues to change.
Whether you’re leading a team, planning your next move, or benchmarking compensation to stay competitive, this year’s guide is essential reading.
