Overview

The Oxford-GlobeScan Global Corporate Affairs Survey is an annual benchmark series that provides a comprehensive overview of the trends, challenges, and opinions currently shaping the corporate affairs function. Produced through a partnership between the University of Oxford’s Saïd Business School and the insights firm GlobeScan, the report is now in its seventh annual edition. It serves as a detailed study of how senior practitioners around the world manage corporate reputation, engage with stakeholders, and navigate complex global dynamics. The 2026 report captures the views of 294 senior professionals, offering a cross-sector perspective on issues ranging from geopolitical risk to the integration of advanced technologies like artificial intelligence.

Purpose

The report exists to deliver evidence-based insights into the roles and responsibilities of global corporate affairs leaders. It is designed to inform the decision-making of senior executives and boards by identifying emerging risks and opportunities that impact business value and long-term sustainability. The benchmark aims to help organisations understand how to better align their corporate purpose with societal expectations and regulatory requirements. By tracking the evolution of the corporate affairs agenda over several years, the initiative provides practitioners with a data-driven framework to justify strategic investments in reputation management, stakeholder trust, and functional upskilling within their respective organisations.

Methodology

The 2026 report is based on data collected via an online survey conducted between 4 February and 27 March 2026. The survey population consists of 294 senior professionals from 51 countries, representing a broad range of sectors including financial services, energy, consumer products, and food and agriculture. The methodology prioritises experienced voices, with 83 percent of participants having more than ten years of experience in corporate affairs and nearly 80 percent reporting directly to board or CEO levels. Analysis includes open-ended responses that identify specific risks and opportunities, which are then categorised into regional and sectoral trends. The survey also evaluates functional effectiveness using a 7-point scale to measure impact on business value creation and protection.

Use for Finance Professionals

Finance professionals can use this report to gain a better understanding of the geoeconomic landscape, specifically how geopolitical instability and protectionist policies—such as tariffs and supply chain disruptions—affect market access and financial performance. The findings highlight a significant shift in the risk landscape, where governance and ethics have emerged as the primary source of reputational vulnerability, outstripping environmental concerns in several key regions. This data is essential for professionals involved in risk assessment, compliance, and corporate governance.

Furthermore, the report provides critical intelligence on the dual role of artificial intelligence as both a strategic opportunity for operational efficiency and a major risk factor related to misinformation and data privacy. For those in valuation and investor relations, the report offers benchmarks on how stakeholder trust and corporate reputation contribute to long-term value creation. By understanding these trends, finance teams can more effectively allocate resources toward building functional capabilities that protect the organisation’s licence to operate and support inclusive growth strategies.