2026 corporate governance trends in consumer markets

PwC (Feb 26, 2026) "2026 corporate governance trends in consumer markets" draws on the 2025 Annual Corporate Directors Survey responses from 67 directors on boards of public consumer-markets companies. Highlight findings: 71% of consumer-markets directors are concerned about the impact of income inequality on their company, a sharp rise from 49% the year prior; GLP-1 medications are reshaping product portfolios, marketing, demand forecasts and wellness branding in CPG and retail; and AI governance remains weak — boards now receive AI information but many still lack visibility into deployment and risk controls. PwC urges directors to treat scenario planning as a tool for structural uncertainty and to scrutinise decision rights, data governance and incentives. Useful read-out for SEA mid-market consumer-goods boards.