The CEO Radar Q2 2025: Behind the Tariff Headlines
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Apr 28, 2025 
Rich Lesser, BCG Global Chair, shares insights based on conversations with CEOs about the significant disparities in tariff discussions between financial analysts and CEOs. He highlights how tariffs impact corporate strategies, particularly in the automotive sector. The dialogue also addresses regional differences in tech and climate discussions, with European leaders focusing more on AI. Lesser emphasizes the importance of adapting to economic uncertainties and the challenges of mergers amid evolving market conditions.
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Analysts Flagged Tariffs First
- Analysts mentioned tariffs 62% more often than CEOs on Q1 2025 earnings calls, signaling market concern ahead of executives.
- The CEO Radar compared nearly 4,900 calls to reveal this gap between market and CEO attention.
CEOs Avoided Public Alarm Over Tariffs
- CEOs likely underestimated the magnitude of potential tariffs and tended to avoid public alarm.
- Rich Lesser suggests CEOs preferred private engagement over public commentary until impacts were clearer.
Regional Differences In Tariff Attention
- Regional differences showed Europe and the U.S. surged in tariff mentions while Asia rose much less.
- Michael Brigl and Rich Lesser attribute differences to prior relationships and strategic localization work in Europe and Asia.