There are also differences in the effective of in different sectors. Analysts dealing with consumer goods ascribed an average of 21 percent of company equity to the senior leadership team, compared with 14 percent for technology, media and telecoms (TMT) analysts.

Will Gosling, a partner in Deloitte's consulting practice, said: "The impact of performance on results is often delayed in industries such as TMT, which are undergoing rapid and radical structural change and are subject to constant innovation. These industries might have to work especially hard to win a leadership premium."