Splits appear to be opening in boardrooms around the world, with misalignment emerging between non-executive and executive directors over key issues, according to new research.

A survey of 1,000 boards worldwide reveals execs and non-execs are “not aligned” on topics such as corporate culture, ESG and talent management.

The research, from consultancy Protiviti, recruitment specialists BoardProspects, and Broadridge (a financial solutions firm), shows there is also disagreement on key values.

According to Mark Rogers, CEO of BoardProspects, boards and their executives may be agreed on the same goals and purpose, while disagreeing on how to get there.

“It’s critical that leadership teams and their partners work together, otherwise it will be difficult to coordinate and executive nimble and competitive responses to changing trends, policies and other markets threats.”

The survey results come at a time of major uncertainty for corporates, as they contend with continuing geopolitical conflict, high interest rates and markets still grappling with a cost-of-living crisis.

Though inflation may be falling, central banks are expected to maintain interest rates at their current levels until at least the summer.

Artificial intelligence is also present as a rapid force for major disruption.

The matter of priorities

The survey found that there are significant differences between the priorities of executives and boards. A fifth of execs consider ESG is not receiving enough time, while only 12% of boards feel likewise. When it comes to talent management there is divergence too, with 21% of the C-suite saying it is “short of attention” while just 12% of boards say likewise.

There are starker differences on values: 73% of C-suite members say they place the interests of their companies ahead of their personal agenda. The figure for board members is 92%.

When it comes being prepared for board meetings, 89% of non-execs say they’re up to scratch but only 70% of executives agreed that was the case.

However, there is agreement on the risks facing business. Alarmingly, there is surprisingly low levels of confidence in leadership being able to manage them.

There are only three issues for which more than half respondents believe they are prepared: compliance and regulatory requirements (58%), access to capital and liquidity (58%), and corporate culture (58%).

On other big issues, a worryingly low number of respondents believe that the business will able to manage the risks. These are political uncertainty (29%); rapid change/disruptive innovation (29%); geopolitical conflict (27%); and AI, automation and other emerging tech (27%).