Governance
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NEWS: Regulation, 2 November, 2021
Cutting quarterly reporting may undermine the value of companies
Research suggests a decrease in quarterly reporting is linked to decreased company value—and impacts smaller firms more than larger firms.
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COMMENT: Board effectiveness, 1 November, 2021
Good governance relies on gut instinct, not just rules
The DNA of companies varies significantly. This would suggest that there are many criteria of good governance.
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NEWS: Governance, 1 November, 2021
Women on boards ‘are driving progress on ESG’
The Sustainability Board Report says boardrooms need more women if action on ESG issues is to improve further.
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INSIGHT: Remuneration & ESG, 28 October, 2021
Executive pay—buying virtue
There is unstoppable momentum behind linking executive pay to ESG targets. That’s not all good news.
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NEWS: Legislation, 22 October, 2021
Top UK companies push for mandatory human rights due diligence
Tesco, John Lewis, Asos and the Co-op are among the firms calling for new UK laws mandating human rights and environmental due diligence.
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NEWS: Sustainability, 20 October, 2021
UK green finance report puts focus on transition plans
Chancellor Rishi Sunak says requiring firms to disclose transition plans would help the UK to “set new global standards for sustainability”.
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COMMENT: Governance, 18 October, 2021
A remixed roadmap for the future of board leadership
A recent report identifies the need for a new governance model that reflects the changing responsibilities of boards and their leaders.
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INSIGHT: Governance, 18 October, 2021
The storm before the calm: how boards can make better decisions
Behind every apparently calm surface lies a mass of board member interests, beliefs and emotions. How these conflicts can be managed?
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NEWS: Corporate governance, 14 October, 2021
US senator Marco Rubio: ‘woke corporations’ could breach fiduciary duty
Rubio has proposed new legislation allowing shareholders to bring legal action against directors over "political conflicts of interest".
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NEWS: Report, 13 October, 2021
Gen Z investors’ focus on ethics and ESG poses a challenge for boards
EQ poll reveals 18% of all UK/US retail shareholders are Generation Z—and 80% of them factor ESG issues into their financial decision-making.
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NEWS: Leadership, 12 October, 2021
Companies with narcissistic CEOs have lower share prices but better governance
Almost one in five US CEOs in a Stanford University survey is considered a narcissist by fellow directors. But this may not be bad news.
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NEWS: Research, 12 October, 2021
Firms with a strong CSR record are more likely to survive a crisis
Academics identify link between CSR and survival, showing that companies where CSR is a priority were less likely to delist in the pandemic.
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INSIGHT: Remuneration, 8 October, 2021
South Africa is tightening its rules around executive pay, but gaps remain
South Africa has the highest wage inequality in the world, and there is growing interest in remuneration governance and director pay.
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NEWS: Legislation, 6 October, 2021
New Zealand parliament to debate reform to directors’ duties
MPs in Wellington will examine a bill that would allow New Zealand’s directors to consider ESG issues as part of their company obligations.
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NEWS: Research, 4 October, 2021
BLM protests see investors back boards with black directors
The recruitment of black directors and the discussion of diversity in company documents both increased following the death of George Floyd.
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COMMENT: Stakeholders, 2 October, 2021
Corporate purpose: reasons for optimism, but vigilance is required
Many companies have acted in a compassionate manner since the pandemic began; others haven't. Corporate purpose has made the difference.
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INSIGHT: Strategy, 1 October, 2021
Does diversity deliver? We don’t know yet—and here’s why
Studies appear to show a causal link between diversity and financial performance. But the methods are not robust enough to draw this conclusion.
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NEWS: Research, 29 September, 2021
Independent directors play essential role in assessing share buybacks
Study finds independent directors are efficient at monitoring buybacks and avoiding those "that would destroy long-term shareholder value”.
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INSIGHT: Stakeholders, 29 September, 2021
In extreme times, we need new priorities for corporate governance
Corporate governance that prioritises shareholder profit maximisation is no longer adequate in light of the challenges that society faces.
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NEWS: Strategy, 27 September, 2021
Boards prioritising company insiders over independence
After a previous trend for independent directors, crisis-hit boards have been appointing more company insiders with firm-specific knowledge.