Half of headhunters think more than half of senior executives will work past the ages of 65-69, according to research from InterExec, executive search firm for professionals earning more than £150k.

The research also shows 4% of senior executives often lie about their age on their CV, with almost two-thirds (63%) admitting that they lie but ‘not often’ about their age on their CV.

Kit Scott-Brown, managing director of InterExec, says: “What is most important when employing someone at the top end of the career ladder is the skillset and wealth of experience that they are going to bring to the new role.

“As long as the potential employee is in rude health, their age is to some extent incidental. We are going to be seeing a lot more executives working after they hit 69 over the next decade or so, and I think employers need to be prepared for that.”