Half of senior managers want to quit their jobs within two years, a survey of British business leaders finds.

Half of senior managers want to quit their jobs within two years, a survey of British business leaders finds.

Nearly two thirds surveyed are unhappy with their current roles and two out of five are actively looking for positions outside their companies.

The Agile Leader report, which surveyed 200 business leaders at large UK companies, finds 62 per cent are dissatisfied with their jobs and 57 per cent are unhappy with their employers.

It also finds 43 per cent are actively looking for a new role outside their organisations and 29 per cent plan to leave within the next year, rising to 54 per cent within two years.

Sarah Hunter, account director at Berkshire Consultancy, which commissions the survey, says: ‘Leadership succession planning and development took a back seat during the recession, leaving many senior executives feeling unsupported and unsatisfied.’

Hunter adds: ‘Those companies that are already struggling, risk losing critical talent just when they need it the most.’

Despite the urge to move, the research shows that some leaders are biding their time and awaiting clearer signs of economic recovery before moving on.

But most executives are poised to jump ship with 56 per cent saying they would have left in the past year had an appropriate opportunity arisen and 12 per cent have already accepted another job.