Risk Everywhere: extending ownership beyond the risk function

For years, Switzerland has been seen as a stable anchor in an unstable world. Today, global risk is no longer something happening outside Switzerland. It is now materialising inside Swiss business models, supply chains, regulatory environments and digital transformation programmes, making enterprise risk management a board-level priority.

• Geopolitical fragmentation is reshaping export markets and cross-border operations
• Regulatory divergence is increasing pressure on Swiss financial services, pharma and industrial sectors
• Cyber threats are escalating while digital transformation accelerates across Swiss corporates
• AI is being deployed – but often without the governance maturity required to control inherent risks

Global risk trends and what the report reveals

The Global Risk Landscape 2026 report explores how organisations can respond by rethinking how risk is understood, owned and acted upon. Drawing on insights from 500 C-suite executives across major global markets, the report shows where organisations are most exposed, where traditional risk management approaches are falling short, and what business leaders can do to respond with greater speed and confidence.

BDO's Global Risk Landscape Report shows a clear pattern:

• 8 in 10 business leaders say risk is now defined by ongoing crisis
• Speed of disruption is increasing, reducing time to react
• Most organisations are still too slow, too siloed, and too reactive

Why risk management in Switzerland must become a business capability

As a highly export-oriented economy with strong dependence on global supply chains, growing exposure to EU and international regulation, and rapid adoption of digital and AI-driven business models, Swiss organisations face a risk environment in which global disruption can quickly become local business impact. Risks that once appeared separately now interact, accelerate and spread across the organisation. For Swiss businesses and institutions, the challenge is no longer whether these pressures matter locally, but how quickly leadership teams can respond with clarity and confidence.

The findings show a growing divide between organisations that treat risk management as a defensive, standalone function and those that embed risk thinking across the business. The latter are best positioned for what comes next - treating risk management as a strategic enabler rather than a brake on growth.

This report sets out to portray what globally operating businesses need to change, why it matters, and what Swiss leaders can do now to make the shift from reacting to risk to shaping outcomes.

Gain deeper insight into the risks shaping 2026 – and how leading organisations are responding.