Vistage International Survey Reveals More CEOs Are First Born.

From the Playground to the C-Suite: Does Birth Order Matter?

SAN DIEGO -- Being the first-born child in the family offers many benefits well known among siblings. No hand-me-downs, more baby pictures, the apple of mom's eye, and as the oldest brother or sister, early opportunities to be in charge. Those leadership tendencies learned on the playground may well carry forward in life, at least according to a survey recently conducted by Vistage International.

A survey of 1,582 chief executives who are members of Vistage International, an executive performance company, reveals 43 percent of CEO respondents are indeed the first born. Middle children become CEOs as well, but the odds are less with 33 percent achieving this status. As for the last-born siblings, only 23 percent of the respondents are chief executives.

Depending on where they fell in the birth order, Vistage member CEOs had a tendency to be very outspoken and light-hearted about this survey. "I am the first born (I have one younger brother) and not only do I agree about the smarts... I also advocate the point of view that the first born is also much more attractive," said Vistage member Al Redmer, CEO of Coventry Healthcare in Baltimore, MD.

One Vistage CEO who came last in his family birth order didn't quite agree with the results, however. "I am youngest (and smartest) of five children," stated Kirk Reinitz, CEO of Advocate Radiology Billing & Reimbursement Specialists in Powell, OH.

"Debates as to who is smarter, more attractive, or more likely to succeed resound across dinner tables nightly, and it doesn't stop with our CEOs," said Rafael Pastor, Vistage chairman of the board and CEO. "Birth order often translates into certain family responsibilities and expectations that require leadership at an early age. I'm sure the debate will go on for some time."

The Vistage International online survey includes responses from 1,582 members nationwide, with a margin of error of 2.1 percent. The majority of respondents, 45 percent, lead companies of 150 or more employees. Only three percent of participating CEOs grew up as the only child, with the majority of respondents, 74 percent, raised in households with two to four siblings.

about Vistage International

Vistage International and its affiliates have 14,000 members in 16 countries representing the world's largest CEO membership organization based on revenue. Vistage members generate nearly $300 billion in annual revenue and have more than 2.1 million employees around the world. Vistage is dedicated to increasing the effectiveness and enhancing the lives of chief executives. Member companies are better run and grow their revenues, on average, at twice the percentage growth rate after joining Vistage.

Vistage International includes operations in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, China, Mexico, Argentina and the Netherlands. Vistage affiliates include TEC, The Executive Committee and The Executive Connection in the following areas: Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Germany, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and South Africa.