NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc. reported that CEOs are exiting companies at a record pace this year, with 960 departures through August.

The global outplacement consultancy group that tracks CEO departures said the rate of CEO changes is 7.5 percent higher than in 2005.

The automotive sector has seen the most turnover, with 19 departures in an industry with a small number of companies, according to Challenger.

At Ford Motor Co. (up $0.32 to $9.03, Charts), William Clay Ford, Jr. handed over the top job to Alan Mulally on Sept. 5 in an effort to jump-start the troubled automaker, which has suffered from losses and slumping market share.

Media conglomerate Viacom (up $0.43 to $35.56, Charts) also experienced a CEO shift last week when Thomas Freston was replaced with Philippe Dauman, a member of the board of directors.

Challenger noted that August was the seventh month this year that CEO changes reached over 100 (with 114), and of the 960 CEO exits in 2006, 47 percent have stepped down or resigned while 26 percent have retired.

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