FINANCE remains the most common career background of FTSE-100 chief executives, a survey by recruitment specialist Robert Half UK shows.

The survey found 55 per cent of FTSE-100 chiefs had a background in finance, compared with 21 per cent in retail and hospitality, 15 per cent in engineering and natural resources, 15 per cent in marketing, and 14 per cent in technology. And 23 per cent of FTSE-100 chief executives are qualified chartered accountants.