14 September, 2020

‘Tech emperors’ need effective checks and balances in the boardroom

While the innovation and brilliance of tech “star founders” and their revolutionising companies have undoubtedly delivered great rewards for many of their stakeholders, they also bring new and unc...

9 September, 2020

Why succession planning should be part of a company’s corporate culture

Not many board decisions will be more critical than deciding who (and when) to appoint as a new lead executive—whether CEO, executive chair or combined chair and CEO. The new lead executive will be ...

7 September, 2020

US rule change sets up clash with proxy advisers

A war of words has broken out over the latest efforts to regulate proxy advisers and their ability to vote on ESG (environmental, social and governance) issues in the US. The latest episode comes a...

28 August, 2020

Corporate disclosures and investor relations ‘impaired by Covid-19’

The Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown has posed many challenges for companies, but among the top concerns for audit committees has been corporate disclosures and the relationship with shareholders. Af...

3 August, 2020

EU urges firms to focus on long-term strategy over short-term goals

If there is one theme that characterises debate about corporate governance over the past decade it is the conflict between short-term and long-term strategy and decision-making. The European Commis...

20 July, 2020

UK dividends slashed by a ‘dizzying’ £22bn in Q2

The pandemic has had an emphatic impact on rewards for shareholders. A report this reveals that dividend payments in the UK were cut in the second quarter by a “dizzying” 57.2%, or £22bn. The ...

19 June, 2020

Norges Bank issues warning over shareholder proposals

Norges Bank Investment Management, the investment vehicle for the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund, has issued new voting guidance warning other investors that shareholder proposals should not ...

9 June, 2020

US public backs shift to stakeholder capitalism amid Covid-19

Capitalism is at a crossroads in the US, with almost nine out of ten people wanting large corporates to concentrate on serving their workers, customers, communities and the environment, according to n...

22 May, 2020

FRC urges companies to provide ‘full disclosure’ of survival prospects

UK companies are under notice to be transparent about their prospects for survival as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. The warning comes from the

13 May, 2020

LGIM to vote against ExxonMobil chair over climate concerns

If there is one company that attracts the ire of those concerned with protecting the environment it is the world’s second largest oil company, ExxonMobil. The company’s history is not only one of ...