Canadian CEOs more bullish than their counterparts

A new Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC) poll suggests that Canadian companies are feeling more optimistic than their counterparts elsewhere in the developed world. Compared to business leaders in other countries, Canadian CEOs were less likely to say that their firms have suffered because of the global economic slowdown. “This doesn't mean Canadian CEOs aren't worried - two thirds are concerned about uncertain or volatile economic growth, while half are concerned about the lack of stability in capital markets,” PwC said in a summary of the findings. “Close to 50 per cent believe that the global economy will decline over the next 12 months. But Canadian CEOs may be in a better position to adjust their business strategy and operations to face whatever comes their way because of greater economic stability compared to many of their counterparts around the world.” Reflecting this more confident outlook, more than half of the Canadian executives who took part in the survey said they have increased their employee numbers in the last year, and about the same number expect to continue hiring in the coming year.