CEOs Beware: Shareholder Activism as Investors Move into 2026

Call it "CEO Targeting." In terms of shareholder activism that has quadrupled since 2018, with female CEOs especially vulnerable, documents the Harvard Law School Forum on Corporate Governance. As a result, the targeting has generated:

" ... leadership changes and making rigorous performance reviews, transparent succession planning, and proactive board engagement"

Meanwhile, adds the Forum, that shareholder activism has become more sophisticated in terms of the players, tactics and defenses. 

So, predictably shareholder activism defense is growing into a major practice niche for elite law firms. Some of the growth is coming from lateral activity. Paul, Weiss has poached from Wachtell, for instance, and Cleary from Wilson Sonsini.

Paul, Weiss positions and packages its practice this way:

"We help public companies and their boards prepare for, respond to and navigate activist share accumulations, settlements, proxy contests and other hostile campaigns. [That includes] the activist investor playbook, whether the focus is changes to management or directors, a shift in strategy, return of capital, operational changes or pursuing a takeover, break-up or sale of a company."

A recent Paul, Weiss assignment was establishing the cooperation between Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Elliott Investment Management. 

Chief Executive sums up 2025 as the year of realities for CEOs. They could no longer hold on to illusions that the key factors of the business were under control. Therefore, moving into 2026, what has become obvious, especially to activist investors are:

"Supply chains rebuilt for resilience are now exposing fragility in the balance sheet, investments in AI are generating wildly uneven returns and operational complexity is quietly eroding margins in ways that don’t show up until it’s too late."

Therefore, anticipate shareholder activism to continue to challenge corporate leadership in 2026.

In coaching, I am still encountering denial about the scope and pace of change in business models as well as career paths. To get a handle on reality I encourage the unemployed to get a job, any job. If they just sit in isolation hunting for jobs, many of which may no longer exist, they might never return to working for income. 

Success is a mental game. Failure comes from being done in by the “committee” in your head.

Together, we reprogram your thinking. Then we change your story. And, unleash success.

Intuitive Coaching. Special expertise with transitions, becoming a solopreneur and aging. Psychic/tarot readings, upon request. Complimentary consultation with Jane Genova (Text 203-468-8579, janegenova374@gmail.com). Yes, test out the chemistry. Zero risk.

Don’t give up before the miracle.




 

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