24 February, 2021

Investors and analysts ‘still learning to price ESG-related incidents’

The world is full of ESG ratings promoting the benefits of a stellar corporate performance on environmental, social and governance factors. But what of the downsides? New research suggests ESG-related...

23 February, 2021

Bonuses and bias: the risks of variable pay for compliance professionals

For many organisations, recent developments mean an accountable person responsible for compliance needs to be a board director. For some firms this might be the CEO, a legal director or a dedicated co...

19 February, 2021

AIM and FTSE SMC companies lag behind larger firms on diversity

All-white boards are unlikely to disappear from smaller listed companies for years, according to a new report. Research into the progress of women and ethnic minority directors across the AIM UK 50...

19 February, 2021

Is it inevitable that the FTSE 350 is ahead on boardroom diversity?

Company Matters’ report, released this week, into diversity on FTSE SmallCap (SMC) and AIM listed company boards shows a familiar picture. Compellingly summarised in its own title

16 February, 2021

Why ESG strategy is a complex corporate challenge for boards

ESG: three simple letters that can stand for total confusion unless it is fully understood by the board. It is not about compliance per se, although some boards may choose to view it that way. It is a...

12 February, 2021

Six key areas of brand activism—and how your company can speak out

On 6 January 2021 the world watched with horror at the storming of the US Capitol. Some were shocked, others angered, and many felt disbelief this was actually happening on the soil of the world's mos...

12 February, 2021

What boards need to know about business transformation

Transformation was already high on the board agenda prior to Covid-19, but its importance is growing as boards and executive teams wrestle with how the post-pandemic economy will shape up. As a board ...

4 February, 2021

How boards can steer companies to ‘build back better’

When the history of the Covid-19 pandemic is written, it will no doubt note how, in one fell swoop, the bug accomplished something humanity had long struggled to do:

2 February, 2021

Why directors should make compliance a strategic exercise

The challenges for boards of directors have never been so great. The trend is unlikely to be reversed in 2021—quite the contrary. Besides the fact that boards of directors have to handle a continuin...

2 February, 2021

Norges Bank divests from companies over tax issues

Norges Bank, one of the world's biggest investment managers, has revealed that is has divested from seven companies over tax issues in the past year. News service