Comment
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Gender diversity, 30 May, 2018
Making a difference through diversity in the boardroom
Voting is not just about boardroom composition but also the quality of organisations’ diversity policies, and that is why LGIM is putting its money where its mouth is.
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Sustainable business growth, 25 May, 2018
How business can recognise the true value of people and communities
The new Social & Human Capital Coalition will help make business more successful and society more resilient, argues Peter Bakker.
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Audit ownership reform, 18 May, 2018
The audit market concentration ratchet strengthens case for reform
The audit market is being accused of lacking competition, but there is a case for reforming ownership rules.
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Gender inequality, 18 May, 2018
The gloves are off: gender pay gap reporting and dirty tricks
Since gender pay gap reporting rules came into force last year, some boards are playing dirty to avoid exposing higher male pay ratios.
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Technology and data, 8 May, 2018
How boards can use technology to retain a competitive edge
Knowledge and skills in the boardroom must evolve with the risks and opportunities presented by technology—as well as its associated data—if companies are to remain competitive.
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Auditors and audit, 1 April, 2018
Grant Thornton’s decision throws a cloud over audit market
Grant Thornton's decision to stop pitching for big audit contracts raises fresh questions about the UK's audit market.
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Remuneration, 29 March, 2018
Will a private company governance code really duck executive pay?
James Wates has made emphatic statements on the role of executive pay in the forthcoming governance code for private companies. But what do they mean?
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Information, 23 March, 2018
Facebook makes data ethics the big governance issue
The scandal over what happened to Facebook user data by Cambridge Analytica illustrates that companies still struggle with core questions about how data can and cannot be used.
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Human rights, 9 March, 2018
Stepping up supply chain protection
Boards must pay heed to labour abuses in their supply chains by ensuring strong risk management and building stable relationships—or face the many damaging consequences.
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Women on boards, 28 February, 2018
Board gender diversity requires a diversity of attitude
A spotlight has shone on showbusiness since the beginning of the #metoo campaign, but how can women feel empowered and make a difference in boardrooms?
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Capital allocation, 26 February, 2018
Share buybacks: a question of governance?
The UK government is investigating share buybacks, but could capital allocation be a subject for more disclosure and the corporate governance code?
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COMMENT: Corporate governance, 23 February, 2018
The Secret NED: time for the governance code to find its direction
A new corporate governance code is all well and good, but will it be an improvement on the last? Only if it asks the right questions.
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Women on boards, 22 February, 2018
Want gender diversity on corporate boards? Try a diversity of tactics
Pushing a particular formula for getting more women onto boards is a surefire way to narrow the conversation and slow progress, argues Catherine Banat.
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Executive rewards, 22 February, 2018
Why modesty is king when it comes to CEO remuneration
While executive pay may be perceived by many to be about scale, new research finds that less may well be more; indeed, the best-performing companies have been found to pay their CEOs relatively less than others.
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Corporate governance, 22 January, 2018
Twenty-five years of the UK Corporate Governance Code
The first governance code was launched in Britain 25 years ago, following a set of corporate scandals. Since then, governance has evolved to tackle more complex challenges that are no longer local—they're global, and they're pressing.
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Business ethics, 20 December, 2017
Is British business behaving more ethically, or does it just look that way?
Research shows an improvement in public opinion on ethical business behaviour. But is business really behaving more ethically, or does it just appear more favourable when compared with other scandal-hit sectors?
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Governance code revision, 8 December, 2017
UK’s draft new governance code has a social mission
This week saw the release of a new draft code for UK corporate governance. While many were distracted by measures on executive pay, the code's real mission is social "injustices", as highlighted by Theresa May last year.
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Climate reporting, 29 November, 2017
Are directors courting legal action by keeping quiet on climate risk?
In Australia recently, shareholders filed legal action against Commonwealth Bank—it had allegedly failed to disclose climate risk accurately. Could this be the first of many such cases? How should directors report on climate change risks in the face of an uncertain future?
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Climate change, 27 November, 2017
Every board has a role in the transition to a low-carbon economy
Climate change has placed a premium on moving to sustainable business models and a low-carbon economy. The task will need “positivity of purpose“ and “informed assessment“ of climate risks, writes Tom Delay of the Carbon Trust.
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Employees on boards, 20 November, 2017
There’s still everything to gain from having workers on boards
Despite the government’s U-turn, there remains a good case for companies to bring employees into the boardroom, says Janet Williamson of the TUC.