Most firms worldwide are struggling to fill leadership roles from within, according to a new report from The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and the World Federation of People Management Associations (WFPMA).

The report shows that 56% cited a critical talent gap for senior managers’ successors, while only 9% of companies run a sophisticated workforce supply and demand model.

Ernesto Espinosa, president of the WFPMA and a co-author of the report, says: “Talent management needs are particularly critical at the leadership levels of the organisation.

“Succession planning needs to be integrated with leadership development programmes, and this practice has to be standardised. The challenge for HR is to bring talent management practices of executives to the next level to support business growth.”