Bumble, Funko among record 14 female CEOs ousted this year

Bumble and Funko's CEO departures are part of a record 14 ousters of female CEOs in 2025, the highest number since 2017. Executives overall are under more pressure, with 70 force-outs this year. Female CEOs have shorter tenures and are more likely to be forced out than their male counterparts. It is rare for a departing female CEO to be replaced by another woman, with only a handful of exceptions in the last 50 years.

In a notable development, 2025 has seen a record number of female CEOs ousted from their positions, with a total of 14 departures by the end of July. This marks the highest number of women CEOs forced out since at least 2017 [1].

The year has witnessed a significant increase in overall CEO turnover, with 70 force-outs by July 31, according to exechange.com [1]. Among these, a substantial proportion are women, who are more likely to be forced out and have shorter tenures compared to their male counterparts [1]. This trend is highlighted by the ousters at Bumble Inc. and Funko Inc., where the CEOs were replaced following a brief period in their roles [1].

Bumble Inc. replaced its CEO Lidiane Jones with founder Whitney Wolfe Herd, who had previously handed over the reins to Jones for a year. This is a rare exception, as it is uncommon for a departing female CEO to be replaced by another woman. In the last 50 years, only a handful of such cases have been recorded at public companies [1].

Meanwhile, Funko Inc. replaced CEO Cynthia Williams after just one year on the job with board member Michael Lunsford. This turnover reflects a broader trend where female CEOs are more likely to face pressure and shorter tenures compared to their male counterparts [1].

The increasing pressure on executives is also evident in other sectors. For instance, Polish state-controlled insurer PZU dismissed its CEO Andrzej Klesyk after a brief tenure of just five months [2]. The move comes amidst plans to merge PZU with Poland's second-biggest lender by assets, Pekao, in a deal that would create a financial group with a combined market value of over 100 billion zlotys ($27.30 billion) [2].

These developments underscore the challenging environment for CEOs, particularly women, in 2025. The high rate of turnover highlights the need for more robust strategies to support and retain female executives in leadership positions.

References:
[1] https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-08/bumble-funko-help-set-record-pace-for-ousters-of-female-ceos
[2] https://www.marketscreener.com/news/update-1-pzu-dismisses-ceo-andrzej-klesyk-after-brief-tenure-ce7c5edfde81f524