Comment
-
Non-Executive Director Awards, 29 March, 2019
Sir Roger Carr: What makes a good non-executive?
Board Agenda was at the Non-Executive Director Awards in London to see Sir Roger Carr—chair of BAE Systems and the English National Ballet, former chair of Cadbury and Centrica—receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. In his acceptance speech Sir Roger explored the qualities that make a good non-executive.
-
Regulation, 29 March, 2019
Promoting SME growth markets
Small and mid-cap companies need a better regulatory framework, which recognises that their needs differ distinctly from SMEs, and which will enable them to compete and thrive on a fairer playing field.
-
Reputational risk, 8 March, 2019
Why boards need to support whistleblowers
The recently revised UK Corporate Governance Code has re-emphasised the importance of whistleblowing. Resources are available to help boards ensure they are well placed to support the process.
-
ESG strategy, 7 March, 2019
How accountants can help build a culture of sustainability
Accountants can embed lasting change in corporate culture by helping businesses to assess and communicate their non-financial information (NFI) and make the right decisions to ensure a more sustainable economy.
-
Sustainable investment, 6 March, 2019
The growth of impact investing and the role of boards
The market for impact investing is now worth around $1.3trn. It is an opportunity for boards to steer their companies towards work that returns social or environmental benefits.
-
Diverse boards, 25 February, 2019
Business minister’s intervention on board diversity is long overdue
The only surprising thing about business minister Kelly Tolhurst's letter raising the issue of ethnic minority representation on UK company boards is that it has taken so long.
-
Regulation, 22 February, 2019
King IV code change favours quantity over quality
King IV’s “apply and explain” approach is resulting in the release of overwhelming amounts of information, which are obscuring—rather than highlighting—governance issues in South Africa.
-
Diverse boards, 20 February, 2019
How to accelerate gender diversity
Proxy voting and management engagement are the best hopes to boost the number of women on boards—before regulators step in.
-
COMMENT: Board appointments, 29 January, 2019
The Secret NED: the long (long) list for choosing a new chair
The new non-exec on the board has to have something to do. Cue the comi-tragic process of how to find a new chair.
-
CEO-chair roles, 17 January, 2019
Separation of powers makes for healthy board dynamics
Splitting the roles of CEO and chair may help companies prepare for future challenges and avert the risks associated with concentrating power in the hands of one individual.
-
Worker representation, 16 January, 2019
Dim prospects for employees on boards
A worker representative in the boardroom is an option for companies under the UK's new, revised governance code. A survey by ICSA reveals that other options will prove more popular.
-
Corporate culture, 15 January, 2019
Gender diversity on UK boards in need of a ‘step change’
A significant change is now needed from boards across the UK—and possibly the introduction of quotas—if we are to ensure cultural change across corporate UK.
-
Dual-class shares, 11 October, 2018
Balancing act: stock exchanges and dual-class shares
As stock exchanges allow dual-class shares in a bid to attract new listings, investors worry they that represent a “watering down” of listing requirements.
-
Shareholder engagement, 10 October, 2018
How strong investor relationships stem from enhanced dialogue
Contact with investors should no longer be about winning support for policy decisions. It’s all about building deeper relationships, writes Mirza Baig, global head of governance at Aviva Investors.
-
Responsible business, 8 October, 2018
Workforce disclosure – on the agenda and here to stay
Investors are increasingly concerned that the workforces in which they invest are properly supported. A new initiative will provide them with vital information to help ensure they are.
-
Leadership skills, 5 October, 2018
Sink or swim: board leaders must go on a journey of discovery
Board leaders exist on stormy seas of change. The question is, can they stay afloat by adapting to the way the wind is blowing, or will they go down with the ship?
-
Corporate governance code, 3 October, 2018
Opinions of the code: The good, the bad and the missed out
Revisions to the UK Corporate Governance Code, published in July, have sparked mixed reactions from commentators. One thing is clear: the new code won't please everyone.
-
Banking reform, 14 September, 2018
Action needed now on banking fraud and the erosion of trust
Privatisation and self-regulation has created a financial services sector in the west that is rife with fraud and other criminal activity, says professor Nada Kakabadse of Henley Business School.
-
Future of governance, 26 July, 2018
Next-generation thinking on governance can’t be ignored
Tapping into the thinking of young professionals on issues that affect business, society and the economy is a vital part of any evolutionary process. Corporate governance is no exception.
-
Responsible investment, 7 June, 2018
Why serious investors demand more than just climate disclosure
Investors serious about climate change cannot settle for disclosure; their attention must now be on action, writes Sophia McNab of investment charity ShareAction.