Board composition

The General Counsel's Role in Facilitating Board Evaluations

Jaclyn Jaeger October 11, 2011

Regulatory pressures, shareholder scrutiny, and potential liability for directors has elevated the need for quality self-assessments by boards. In fact, the New York Stock Exchange requires them annually. General counsels and corporate secretaries can play a large role in facilitating board evaluations and ensuring that boards get the most out of them. More details inside.

Recruitment Code Aims to Get More Women on Boards

Neil Baker July 25, 2011

In an effort to increase the number of women in senior corporate jobs, a group of London-based executive search firms has launched a new voluntary code of recruitment conduct that it wants companies to follow.

Board Diversity Down, Study Finds, Aguilar Weighs In

Arielle Bikard May 03, 2011

The number of minority men and white women decreased in Fortune 100 companies between 2004 and 2010, according to a new Alliance for Board Diversity study. In response to the release, SEC Commissioner Luis Aguilar said the "abysmal lack of diversity" was "unacceptable."

Attorney General Targets Non-profit Board Pay

Jaclyn Jaeger April 26, 2011

A few state regulators are reviewing compensation for boards of directors at non-profit healthcare systems, with investigations launched and bills filed to curb what some consider bloated pay. "Non-profit leaders ... are stewards of the charitable assets they oversee, and those assets are held for charitable purposes, not individual gain," says New Hampshire Attorney General Michael Delaney.

At Two Companies, Directors Under Fire

Jaclyn Jaeger March 15, 2011

The SEC is pursuing enforcement actions against corporate directors in two separate cases. But rest easy; the cases seem to be isolated incidents of rogue directors stepping over the line, rather than an indication of a concerted effort by the SEC to pursue wrongdoing by board members.

Smaller Boards Work Best

Neil Baker March 08, 2011

Companies are more likely to succeed if they have a relatively small board, a higher proportion of women directors, and a healthy number of non-executives, according to a study from law firm Eversheds.

Europe Starts Financial Sector Governance Reform

Global Glimpses June 07, 2010

The European Commission has launched a review of the corporate governance rules followed by financial firms in its 27 member states.A wide-ranging Green Paper floats a series of potential governance reforms, including new duties for directors, better risk reporting, and a wider remit for external auditors.The paper argues, “Although corporate...

Governance Gets Personal Under New U.K. Code

Global Glimpses May 28, 2010

The directors of the top 350 U.K.-listed companies will face re-election every year, instead of holding the typical three-year tenure, under a revised version of the country’s influential corporate governance code.The new code released today says performance-related pay should be aligned to the long-term interests of the company and its...

Companies Pushed to Disclose Diversity Plans

Global Glimpses March 12, 2010

U.K.-listed companies would have to disclose what they are doing to get more women and "other under-represented groups” into senior management positions under a new Government proposal.Lord Davies, the minister for trade, investment, and small businesses, has written to the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) asking it to include a measure...

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