Comment
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European Commission strategy, 30 August, 2019
A new agenda for Europe: capital markets union, sustainability and IPOs
The European Commission has a new president and is working on its strategic agenda. What should be the new administration's priorities?
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Regulation, 16 August, 2019
Company data: balancing transparency with privacy
There have been increasing concerns that the data held at Companies House is inaccurate and that its public availability is open to misuse. A recent consultation aims to resolve these issues.
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Research, 15 August, 2019
Why insecure leaders trust algorithms over advisers
Psychological experiments suggest that secure leaders are more likely to seek counsel from peers, while insecure bosses prefer to ask an algorithm. What are the implications for leadership?
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Artificial intelligence, 12 August, 2019
Audit and technology: not a panacea, but a catalyst for improvement
New technology offers the possibility of improving the quality of audit and adding value—but the human relationship between organisation and auditor must not be lost.
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Integrated reporting, 9 August, 2019
Better Alignment Project maps the road to sustainability
Participants in the Corporate Reporting Dialogue have concluded a global market consultation on building better alignment between reporting frameworks.
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Corporate culture, 6 August, 2019
If you want employees to speak up, show that you will listen
Effective speak-up procedures help boards to understand and improve their organisational culture. But employees won't come forward unless they feel supported.
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Cybersecurity, 5 August, 2019
Board preparation is key to fighting the ransomware threat
Board members must be clear on how their organisation’s data and IT infrastructure is being protected from the growing ransomware threat—and whether to pay up in the event of an attack.
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Shareholder rights, 26 July, 2019
Imbalance of power: loyalty shares threaten ‘one share, one vote’
The rise of loyalty shares—conferring multiple voting rights—is disrupting the principle of fair and equal treatment of all shareholders in Europe and beyond.
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Talent pipeline, 15 July, 2019
CEOx1Day: Giving future leaders a taste of the top job
Odgers Berndtson initiative CEOx1Day allows students to experience leadership by shadowing a top chief executive. CEO Kester Scrope and student Isabelle Mettan-Ure describe their day together.
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UN SDGs, 5 July, 2019
Integrated reporting: a framework for a more sustainable future
The International Integrated Reporting Framework will help companies translate their commitment to the UN Sustainable Development Goals into business models and corporate purpose.
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Financial risk, 3 July, 2019
Financial risk: questions the board should ask in uncertain times
Chairs and board members must understand their organisation's financial risk policy and hedging strategy to ensure that they can ask the right questions—and mitigate the risks posed by volatile financial markets.
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Board evolution, 17 June, 2019
Shaping the boards of the future
The world of work and business has changed fundamentally over the past 30 years, giving boards a range of new responsibilities. How should board structure evolve to reflect this new environment?
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Regulation, 12 June, 2019
Revised EU Shareholder Rights Directive puts engagement in the spotlight
Comment: The EU’s revised Shareholder Rights Directive comes into force this week. But while some investment managers are embracing the opportunity to engage boards on ESG issues, others appear to be hoping they will go away.
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Board composition, 11 June, 2019
Broadening board diversity is good corporate governance
Having more women and people from diverse ethnic and skill set backgrounds serving as board directors has real and measurable benefits for the health of your organisation.
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COMMENT: Corporate culture, 6 June, 2019
The Secret NED: mind your boardroom language
How some expressions used in the boardroom can offend or reveal bias. Meanwhile, is the hunt for a new chair at an end?
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Ethics, 28 May, 2019
Social media: when personal beliefs clash with corporate values
Recent cases of controversial social media posts have focused attention on what happens when employees' beliefs or opinions contradict their employers' values. It's the responsibility of the board to lead an offline discussion with staff about the boundaries of their personal and professional personas.
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Overboarding, 29 April, 2019
How many chairships is too many?
The controversy over Sir Nigel Rudd's multiple chairships is part of a trend of investors—and governance experts—challenging overboarding and questioning whether non-executive directors can meet their commitments.
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Strategy, 15 April, 2019
The changing face of activism
Comment: A report suggests that activist investors are softening their approach as they increasingly target European companies. So who are they targeting and what can boards do to prepare?
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Leadership, 5 April, 2019
Boardroom lessons from Brexit
Comment: Negotiations to leave the EU have proved enormously complex and have exposed major fault lines in British politics. But the process has also been instructive about the challenges and principles of leadership. Our commentators discuss the lessons they take from events so far.
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Corporate culture, 29 March, 2019
Nissan’s governance report is a warning for all boards
Comment: The special committee's investigation into governance issues highlighted by the Carlos Ghosn affair reveals a corporate culture that allowed the "concentration of authority" in the CEO and a board that felt unable to ask the necessary questions.