CEO CV: Guide, Template & Examples for 2026

Crafting a CEO CV is like outlining a vision for a company: it demands clarity, strategy, and a focus on results. Your CV isn’t just a list of jobs, but a compelling narrative of how you drive growth, lead teams, and deliver value from the top seat. To land a chief executive role, you need to impress hiring committees and board members quickly with evidence of your leadership impact.

By following a proven CEO CV template and our expert tips, you can showcase your executive achievements and stand out. Without further ado, let’s start!

This article will show you:

• CEO CV example to get you inspired.
• How to write a CV of a CEO.
• Best CEO CV templates to use.

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We created the sample on the left using our builder. See other good CV examples like this one.

Looking for a CV-writing guide for a different position? Here’s a selection for you:

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CEO CV example

How to write a CEO CV 

Let’s figure out how to write a perfect CV, such as the one above.

1. Start your CEO CV with a powerful personal statement

A CV personal statement, also called a CV profile or a CV summary, is your first chance to impress. Think of it as your elevator pitch at the top of the page. In 3–4 concise sentences (roughly 50–150 words), sum up the very best of what you offer as an executive. 

Here’s how to write your CEO CV profile:

• Introduce who you are as a leader: Mention your role or seniority level and the breadth of your experience.
• Showcase a few standout achievements with numbers: Highlight concrete results you’ve delivered (e.g. revenue growth, valuation increase, expansion initiatives). Quantifiable achievements immediately grab attention and build credibility.
• Convey what you’ll bring to the new role: Explain how your expertise can benefit the target company. Tailor this to the job at hand, aligning with their industry or strategic goals (for example, reference the company name or their key objective if possible).

CEO CV example: personal statement

Remember to keep the tone confident and impactful. As a rule of thumb, it’s easiest to write the personal statement last, after you’ve detailed your experience and skills. That way, you can accurately encapsulate your career story. 

A strong CV summary will convince the recruiter you’re the perfect candidate. Save time and choose a ready-made personal statement written by career experts and adjust it to your needs in the LiveCareer CV builder.

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2. Showcase leadership achievements in your CV CEO work experience section

Your work history is the cornerstone of a great CEO CV. This is where employers will gauge the scope of your leadership roles and, importantly, the results you delivered. Present your experience in reverse-chronological order, starting with your current or most recent position and working backwards. 

Here’s how to do it right:

• Include title, company name, location, and dates: Ensure your titles are clear. You can add context if necessary, especially if it clarifies a less-common role.
• Structure it with a brief set of bullet points for responsibilities and achievements: Use 4–6 bullets per job, starting with action verbs. Focus on high-level responsibilities like strategy, budgets, or transformations, and link them to outcomes to show impact.
• Add a key achievement with metrics: If not already in your bullets, add a “Key Achievement" for each role to highlight your top accomplishment. Make it measurable for clear proof of effectiveness.
• Tailor this section: Emphasise the experience most relevant to the CEO role, such as highlighting global experience for international expansion, and de-emphasise or omit less pertinent details.

For experienced executives, focus on the last 10–15 years. Summarise or omit earlier roles if outdated or irrelevant. Highlight a pattern of increasing responsibility and impact.

For those aiming for a first CEO role, emphasise executive achievements as COO, General Manager, or VP. Stress instances where you led initiatives or drove strategy, showing readiness for the top role despite lacking the title.

CEO CV example: work experience

3. Highlight education and qualifications on your CEO CV

The education section on a CEO's CV provides the foundation of your expertise. While your professional track record will usually carry more weight at this stage in your career, your educational background is still important—especially if it’s particularly relevant or prestigious.

Here’s how to present it:

• List your highest degree first: Include the degree name, major or field of study, institution, and graduation year. If you graduated with honours or distinction, you may include that information (though it’s usually optional on a senior CV).
• Add undergraduate degree(s) next: You generally don’t need to list high school for a CEO CV, and in the UK, it’s expected to leave out secondary school details once you have higher education.

You’ve nailed the basics, so now the extra parts:

• Include relevant certifications or executive training: If you’ve completed notable executive programmes like an Advanced Management Program or industry-specific certification, include these in the Education section or create a Certifications section. 
• Emphasise leadership or industry-specific coursework (if needed): For aspiring executives with a shorter work history, mentioning a few relevant courses or projects from an MBA or Master’s can help.

CEO CV example: education

Keep the education section of a CEO's CV succinct. A single line per degree or program is usually enough. Remember that the absence of an advanced degree isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker for a CEO role if you have a strong career record. 

Expert advice: In the UK, many top executives hold postgraduate qualifications, such as an MBA; a Robert Half analysis of FTSE 100 leaders found that one in four CEOs holds an MBA. The report also indicates that 15% of new FTSE 100 CEOs spent their entire careers at a single company. If lacking a Master’s or MBA, focus on your professional impact and progress; if you have one, highlight it clearly.

4. Feature the right CEO skills on your CV

The skills section of a CEO CV offers a snapshot of your executive abilities. Unlike early-career CVs, which may list generic skills, a CEO’s skills should be highly tailored and focus on leadership, strategy, and industry-specific expertise. 

Here’s how to make your executive skills stand out:

• Review the job description and pick relevant skills: Identify the target company's valued skills. Incorporate emphasised keywords from the posting into your skills list if relevant. This demonstrates fit and improves ATS scans, as many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems to screen CVs by keywords.
• Aim for a balanced mix of hard and soft skills:Hard skills detail a CEO's technical and operational duties, while soft skills showcase leadership and influence. Focus on abilities relevant to executive decisions, avoiding basic skills that lack value at this level.
• Provide context or examples: In a CEO CV, you may add a brief descriptor after a skill to provide context. This approach, as illustrated in our example CEO’s CV, turns the skills section into mini proof points of ability. It is especially useful if you have space and want to drive home key aspects of your expertise.
• Keep it concise and targeted: Typically, 6 to 10 key skills suffice. Think of the skills section as your highlight reel showcasing what makes you effective. A long list dilutes impact and may trigger ATS flags for keyword spam. Focus on strengths aligned with the job and your experience.
  
  

As Harvard Business Review notes, modern companies increasingly value leaders with strong interpersonal and talent-management skills, not just technical know-how. Make sure your skills section reflects not only your strategic and financial abilities but also your capacity to lead people and drive change.

CEO CV example: skills section

5. Use extra sections on your CEO CV to set yourself apart

A CEO CV should go beyond work experience, education, and skills by including relevant sections that highlight leadership qualities and industry involvement, giving a fuller picture of your profile. The key is to focus on relevance to emphasise your strengths as an executive, not to add unnecessary details. 

These are the best extra CV sections for a CEO:

• Awards & Honours: If you’ve received recognition such as “CEO of the Year”, industry awards, or listings, showcase them. Awards signal external validation of your success and can instantly boost credibility.
• Certifications & Training: List relevant certifications, such as Chartered Director (CDir), financial qualifications (e.g., ACCA), or prestigious executive courses (e.g., Harvard Business School). Include governance or compliance training if relevant.
• Board Memberships & Affiliations: Many CEO candidates serve on boards or are members of professional bodies. Mentioning board roles (even advisory ones) highlights governance experience and networks. 
• Publications & Speaking: Have you authored articles for an industry publication or been invited to present at conferences? This demonstrates thought leadership.

If you still have space in your CEO CV, consider adding:

• Projects or Initiatives: If you led significant one-off projects (such as a major system implementation or a merger integration task force) that don’t comfortably fit under a single job, you could list them separately. Keep it concise: project name, your role, and outcome.
• Volunteer Work or Community Leadership: Many companies value a CEO with a sense of social responsibility. If you have notable volunteer engagements, say you chair the board of a charity or mentor startups, include them. It reflects well on your character and leadership beyond the office.
• Languages: If you speak multiple languages fluently, list them with proficiency level (especially relevant if you’re targeting organisations with global reach). Global businesses often view multilingual ability as a plus for a CEO role.
• Hobbies and Interests: Include pursuits that reflect well on executive-level qualities, such as discipline, strategic thinking, cultural awareness, or community involvement. Keep this section concise and professional, avoiding everyday or casual hobbies that don’t reinforce your leadership profile.

CEO CV example: additional sections

6. Format your CEO CV for clarity and impact

In a competitive executive job market, presentation matters. A well-formatted CV for a CEO ensures your accomplishments shine and nothing distracts the reader from the content. 

Here’s how to format a CV for a CEO:

• Use a reverse-chronological CV format: It’s the most popular one, plus it allows you to highlight your latest achievements best.
• Choose a professional CV template: Keep it straightforward and avoid anything flashy. 
• Use classic section headings consistently: That way, your reader will navigate your CV with ease, which is always helpful, considering the number of documents that land on recruiters’ desks.
• Pick a professional CV font: Times New Roman, Calibri, or Arial works perfectly fine and makes a readable document.
• Keep the spacing consistent: Using a 1.15 line spacing with double-spacing after section headers helps create a clean, organised appearance layout.
• Maintain a proper CV length: Keep it to one or two pages, highlighting key achievements and responsibilities. Eliminate outdated or less relevant details to prevent clutter.
• Save your CV as a PDF: That way, your document stays intact.
• Name your CV correctly: “Your Name + CEO + CV” will work perfectly well.

7. Pair your CEO CV with an impactful cover letter

A powerful CV combined with a well-written cover letter is a winning combination, even for a CEO application. While some executive recruiters may focus primarily on the CV, many still expect a cover letter or at least find value in it. In fact, many recruiters read cover letters even when they’re optional. And believe me, they’re not optional for a CEO position. Your cover letter is your chance to speak directly to the organisation’s needs and to convey your vision and enthusiasm for the role. 

Here’s how to make it count:

• Open with a hook and clear intent: Start your cover letter by addressing the hiring decision-maker by name.
• Mention the specific CEO position and the company: Then immediately grab attention with a top achievement or a strong statement of why you’re excited about the opportunity. This introduction clearly articulates your value proposition from the outset.
• Highlight 2–3 key achievements relevant to the company’s goals: Use the letter's body to connect your experience with the company's challenges or goals. Highlight a few CV accomplishments aligned with their needs. This demonstrates you’ve researched the company and shows how you can fulfil their requirements.
• Demonstrate cultural and motivational fit: Beyond metrics, explain why you want to lead that company. CEOs should be passionate about the mission. Articulating this reassures them you’re not just seeking any CEO role, but this one. It adds a personal touch and shows genuine interest and long-term commitment.
• Conclude with confidence and a call to action: In your closing lines, reassert your enthusiasm for the role and the value you bring. 
• End your cover letter correctly: Use a professional sign-off like “Sincerely,” followed by your name. If you’ve attached your CV, mention it (e.g. “Enclosed: CV for your review”).

You don’t have to be a CV writing expert. In the LiveCareer CV builder you’ll find ready-made content for every industry and position, which you can then add with a single click.

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How we review the content at LiveCareer

Our editorial team has reviewed this article for compliance with LiveCareer’s editorial guidelines. It’s to ensure that our expert advice and recommendations are consistent across all our career guides and align with current CV and cover letter writing standards and trends. We’re trusted by over 10 million job seekers, supporting them on their way to finding their dream job. Each article is preceded by research and scrutiny to ensure our content responds to current market trends and demand.

Sources

• Robert Half, "Route to the Top: MBAs and Accountants lead the FTSE 100"
• Harvard Business Review: "The C-Suite Skills That Matter Most"