US CEOs Are More Worried About Cybersecurity Than a Possible Recession (fortune.com)

With markets uncertain, many onlookers might think a recession is on the way, whether that's most CFOs in the world or voters in the United States. But domestic CEOs don't find heavy economic headwinds their biggest external business worry, according to a new survey by the Conference Board. Instead, it's cybersecurity followed by new competitors. Risk of a recession is third. From a report: After high-profile data breaches experienced over the last two years by such companies as Marriott, Equifax, and Uber, that might seem understandable. But U.S. CEOs stand in stark contrast to those of the rest of the world. Cybersecurity was the sixth most pressing issue for chief executives in Europe. It was seventh in Latin America, eighth in Japan, and 10th in China. Regarding concerns over a potential recession, Europe put that in second place, while Japan, China, and Latin America all rated it number one.

Comments

Re:Pepperidge Farms Remembers

[sycodon]

In 2007, the crash was the result of repackaged bad mortgage debt traded like it was good debt.

The only thing close to that now is student debt. However, I would hope that the Universities would be held accountable for that since the cost inflation and the lack of suitable employment skills falls directly in their laps.

Re: Pepperidge Farms Remembers

[ranton]

If I were a CEO I sure wouldn't worry about cybersecurity because the general public doesn't seem to care. Large, outrageous breaches have become the norm. I'm not even remotely surprised anymore.

Whether or not you care isn't their primary concern. It is the affect on stock price as compared to economic indexes. Research I have seen does show these breaches are having significant negative affects on stock price. It isn't as obvious while overall stock prices are rising, but when you compare them to similar companies their stock price is not keeping up with the market.

Stock prices certainly fall in recessions too, but so does the stock price of their competitors. If things get too dire they always have their golden parachutes to save them.