NED Awards 2020: 'It's the unexpected that really tests us'

Resilience is a key quality when a company enters a moment of crisis like the current pandemic. And that’s when high-quality non-executive directors really count. This year’s Non-Executive Director Awards, though taking place in troubled times, still managed to shine a light on those board members who have gone above and beyond in fulfilling their roles.

NED Awards 2020 John Allan — FTSE 100 winner John Allan

Organised by investment bank Peel Hunt, with support from The Sunday Times, the NED Awards 2020 were unlike any over the previous 14 years, with the big ceremony cancelled due to Covid-19.

But there were still winners. The award for FTSE 100 non-executive of the year went to John Allan, chair of Tesco, while top honours for the FTSE All Share award went to Ian Durant, chair of bakery chain Greggs.

Lifetime achievement honours were awarded to Dame Alison Carnwath, the former chair of Land Securities.

The Dame Helen Alexander NED to Watch award was won by Page Nyame-Satterthwaite, a non-executive director at the National Children’s Bureau.

‘Significant challenge’

Chair of the judges Paul Drechsler said the awards helped underline the qualities required in a non-executive. “The value and importance of these awards is to bring clarity, transparency and awareness to what excellence looks like.”

He added that the pandemic would provide a significant challenge for even the best non-executive board members.

NED Awards 2020 Irene Dorner — Private Equity Backed/Private winner Irene Dorner

“There is not much that is routine in board agendas but we know from experience it’s the unexpected that really tests us,” he said.

Drechsler chaired a judging panel that included Jacqui Ferguson, a previous winner of the NED to Watch award and now serving on the boards at Wood Group, Croda and Tesco Bank, and Frances O’Grady, general secretary of the TUC. Among the other judges were sponsors and academics from Henley Business School and Cranfield School of Management.

The judging process began in September last year with nominations from chief executives. Shortlists for each category are then produced by academics from Henley and Cranfield before being placed before the judges for final decisions.

The awards were sponsored by A&M, Audeliss, BDO, Boudicca, CMS  and Edelman.