PwC Survey: 39% of Directors Say a Fellow Board Member Lacks Expertise, Up From 21%

Nearly 39% of corporate board directors say a fellow director's insufficient expertise warrants replacement, up from 21% a year earlier, and 55% say at least one colleague should step down, according to PwC's 2026 Annual Corporate Directors Survey released September 23, 2026. The survey of 599 directors, 81% at companies with revenue above $1 billion, found a disconnect in recruitment priorities: 81% rate cultural fit as very important, while only 27% cite specialized expertise as a top needed skill, despite 71% saying their boards must improve AI skills for oversight. "The bar has been raised regarding the expectations for the role over the last 10 years or so," said Paul DeNicola, principal at PwC's Governance Insights Center, citing cybersecurity, sustainability and digital transformation pressures. DeNicola cautioned against boards of narrow specialists, favoring broad business judgment, and noted upskilling existing directors as an alternative. Coinbase Global recently named former xAI CFO Anthony Armstrong to its board.