Being boss isn't what it used to be.

• Position: Your Life - Brief Article

Chief executive turnover surged to its highest level since 2001, as 92 CEOs announced their departures in January, according to a survey released by the global outplacement firm of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc., Chicago. CEO departures were spread across a wide variety of industries with the largest number of turnovers occurring in the financial sector (12), health care (11), nonprofit (nine), and telecommunications (eight).

The leading cause of turnover was retirement, which accounted for 38%. While the average age of all departing CEOs was 57.5, the average age of those retiring was 61. "However, there may be more to the departures than the public announcements reveal," notes John A. Challenger, chief executive officer of Challenger, Gray & Christmas. "Today's CEO is under fire from a number of sectors. Not only are shareholders demanding higher and higher returns...