Our annual salary benchmark draws on 1,400+ placements and direct primary research to provide the most accurate picture of executive compensation across the global print, packaging, and manufacturing landscape. This year’s report covers EMEA, North America, and APAC with granular data by function, seniority, and sub-sector.
Headline Findings
- C-suite salaries in flexible packaging rose 12% year-on-year across EMEA — the highest single-year increase in a decade
- Sustainability-focused roles now command a 15–22% premium over operationally equivalent positions at the same seniority level
- Digital print specialists remain in acute global undersupply, with APAC experiencing the most acute shortages
- Counter-offers hit an all-time high — 67% of Director-level and above candidates received at least one in 2023
- Long-term incentive plans (LTIPs) are now included in 58% of C-suite packages, up from 41% in 2021
By Region
The UK market leads on base salary for operational and commercial roles. Germany and Switzerland offer the strongest total compensation packages when long-term incentives and benefits are included. APAC growth is reshaping the global talent market — Singapore saw 18% salary inflation for senior commercial roles, and Malaysia 21%, driven by the rapid expansion of regional flexible packaging capacity.
North America remains a premium market for executive talent, particularly in corrugated and folding carton where the integrated mill-to-box model creates demand for hybrid commercial-operational leaders commanding $350k–$500k all-in packages.
By Function
Commercial roles (Sales Director, Business Development Director) recorded the highest salary growth at 14.2% average across all regions. This reflects intensified competition for individuals who can combine technical product knowledge with strategic account management at the C-suite client level.
Technical roles (R&D Director, Process Engineering Director) grew at 9.8%, but this masks significant variation: sustainability-adjacent technical roles grew at 19.4%, while traditional process engineering grew at just 6.1%.
Operational leadership (Plant Director, Operations Director) grew at 11.1%, reflecting sustained demand for leaders who can simultaneously manage lean transformation programmes, capital investment projects, and digital integration initiatives.
Sustainability Premium
The most striking trend in this year’s data is the growing salary premium commanded by roles with a clear sustainability mandate. Heads of Sustainability in the packaging sector now earn an average of 19% more than their non-sustainability equivalent at Director level. This premium is driven by scarcity: the pool of executives with genuine ESG expertise — not just awareness — who also possess packaging industry credentials remains extremely shallow.
The Counter-Offer Problem
67% of Director-level candidates received at least one counter-offer during their most recent role change. Of those who accepted the counter-offer, 78% had left the original employer within 18 months regardless. This data reinforces our long-standing advice to clients: the counter-offer is a sticking plaster, not a retention strategy.
The businesses winning the war for talent are those who lead with purpose, autonomy, and competitive long-term incentive structures — not just base salary. The conversation about compensation strategy needs to happen years before someone hands in their notice. — James Harlow, Managing Partner, CHI