Governance
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NEWS: Strategy, 23 September, 2020
EcoAct sustainability study warns of FTSE 100 performance gap
While the FTSE 100 features numerous high-performers, many lower-scoring companies are still failing to address climate change risk.
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INSIGHT: Sustainability, 21 September, 2020
When corporate social responsibility is mostly for show
Under pressure to be good corporate citizens, politically endorsed firms in emerging markets often choose philanthropy over adopting greener practices.
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NEWS: Investment stewardship, 16 September, 2020
Vanguard takes big names to task over pay and climate policies
Uber, Ocado, Alphabet and Rio Tinto are among the companies named in the global asset manager's report into governance concerns.
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NEWS: Finance, 15 September, 2020
Share buybacks criticised for ‘short-term self-enrichment’ of executives
Analysts say that increasing corporate debt is often tied to share buybacks, which in turn relates to the sale of stock by executives.
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COMMENT: Corporate governance, 14 September, 2020
‘Tech emperors’ need effective checks and balances in the boardroom
The increasing complexity of tech firm ownership structures could, if unchecked, impact the ability of boards to provide strong and effective governance.
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NEWS: Business issues, 11 September, 2020
Governance week: Rio Tinto, ESG, climate risk, Aussie audit
Investors lead backlash against Rio Tinto over destruction of Aboriginal sites. Plus a warning from ecoDa on sustainability, and analysis of Australia's audit market.
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INSIGHT: Research, 11 September, 2020
Women leaders are better at fighting the pandemic
The performance of women leaders in the Covid pandemic offers a global experiment in crisis management. Why has gender made a difference?
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INSIGHT: Board responsibilities, 11 September, 2020
How directors should manage AI, GDPR and data privacy risks
Senior management need to have policies, processes and people in place to address data protection risks arising from AI and GDPR.
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INSIGHT: Strategy, 10 September, 2020
Not business as usual: returning to the workplace after the pandemic
Amid the practical issues, organisations must rebuild connections between employees—and recapture a shared sense of purpose.
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NEWS: Risk management, 9 September, 2020
Only 8% of UK businesses have ‘fully-fledged’ climate risk plan
KPMG report reveals firms' lack of concrete climate risk plans and urges "more immediate action at boardroom level".
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INSIGHT: Governance, 9 September, 2020
Why succession planning should be part of a company’s corporate culture
Effective succession planning ensures continuity of leadership, promotes talent cultivation and reduces uncertainty for investors.
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NEWS: Supply chains, 8 September, 2020
Corporate support builds for mandatory human rights due diligence
Companies including Adidas, Nestlé and Ericsson have pledged their backing for "new binding standards which benefit all".
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NEWS: Regulation, 7 September, 2020
US rule change sets up clash with proxy advisers
The US Department of Labor has proposed new rules that could undermine the ability of proxy advisers to vote on non-financial issues such as ESG.
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NEWS: Strategy, 4 September, 2020
Companies ‘need new mechanism’ to integrate stakeholder interests
Academics suggest a South African-style "social and ethics committee" could help to embed stakeholder interests into board decision-making.
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INSIGHT: Organisational behaviour, 1 September, 2020
Power, politics and crisis response on the board
A recent study suggests it’s not individual directors but the competing coalitions they form that determine what boards will do.
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INSIGHT: Crisis management, 28 August, 2020
Corporate disclosures and investor relations ‘impaired by Covid-19’
A recent event hosted by Mazars brought together audit committee chairs and investors to explore their experience of coping with the impact of Covid-19.
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INSIGHT: Sustainability, 28 August, 2020
Going green benefits businesses—and should be central to their recovery
With consumers, employees and investors increasingly focused on sustainability, green initiatives should be key to any post-Covid strategy.
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INSIGHT: Board composition, 24 August, 2020
Why is there a progress gap between FTSE gender and ethnicity targets?
We need a renewed focus on the representation of both gender and ethnicity on boards, ensuring targets are comparable and given equal profile.
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NEWS: Business issues, 21 August, 2020
Governance week: stakeholderism, US election, IoD departure, ESG blow
Is the shift to stakeholder primacy real—or a PR exercise? Plus change at the top for the Institute of Directors; confirmation of the Biden–Harris ticket; and bad news for ESG.
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NEWS: Remuneration, 21 August, 2020
Average US CEO pay increases to $21.3m
Bosses in the top 350 US companies have seen their remuneration rise by 14%, with the ratio of CEO pay to average US worker income now 320:1.