A key theme of the past 12 turbulent months has been the acceleration of ESG. Boards have recognised the risks of ignoring ESG and smart Boards are alert to the opportunity that ESG provides in terms of innovation, licence to operate and access to capital. While Boards are moving fast to understand stakeholder expectations and stakeholder value, a new and important variant has entered the field: state capitalism. In all countries, government has a major role to play in rebuilding economies and securing a green future. During the pandemic, business has felt keenly the consequences of governments needing to move quickly; today’s Boards need to be intensely alert to government which will have an exceptional say in the future of business and the economy in the years to come. Fidelio has seen from our Board assignments that this has clear implications for Board composition and how the Board operates. Effective Boards will be skilled in navigating often disruptive change and will also be good at stakeholder engagement, with government frequently being a key stakeholder.
THE CHALLENGE
These are themes vital to the future of governance and Board effectiveness. They will be embedded in Fidelio’s forthcoming “A Seat at the Table” Board Development Programme (16th – 17th March 2021) where we will be exploring:
ESG and how it is impacting different types of Boards: quoted, private equity, non-profit and across a range of jurisdictions
Board structure: how is the work of the Board accommodating the radical shifts in shareholder and stakeholder expectations, including the implications for:
The role of the Chair and the role of the Senior Independent Director
Committee Structure – can a traditional Committee structure accommodate the work of sustainability?
The contribution of the Company Secretary
Shareholders and 2021 AGM expectations
Enabling diversity and the role of the Board
"Building Back Better"
Trust and reputation
Government regulation, technology and the implications for Boards
Fidelio will guide participants from a range of leading companies and organisations through these Board challenges. We will be ably supported by talented and highly experienced contributors:
OUR CONTRIBUTORS
EXPERIENCED CHAIRS & NON-EXECUTIVES:
Ann Cairns, Executive Vice Chair, Mastercard; Global Chair, 30% Club; Chair, ICE Clear Europe & Financial Alliance for Women; Member, UK Government’s AI Council; Lead Non-Executive Board Member, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)
Natalie Ceeney, Chair, Innovate Finance; Senior Independent Director, Countrywide plc; Non-Executive Director, Anglian Water Services; Remuneration Committee Chair, Ford Credit Europe Bank; Vice Chair, Sport England
Tony Cocker, Senior Independent Director, SSE plc; Chair, Infinis
Jo Harlow, Sustainability Committee Chair, J Sainsbury plc; Supervisory Board Member, CECONOMY AG; Non-Executive Director, Halma plc and InterContinental Hotels Group plc
LEADING BOARD & GOVERNANCE EXPERTS:
Beatriz Araujo, Partner, Baker McKenzie; Expert on Governance Projects, WEF
Rachel Brandenburger, Senior Advisor and Foreign Legal Consultant, Hogan Lovells US LLP
David Jackson, former Company Secretary, BP plc
Michael Stewart, Global Leader, Corporate Affairs & Communications, PwC
Cas Sydorowitz, Global Head of Activism and M&A, Georgeson
Gillian Karran-Cumberlege: Head of Chair Advisory, Fidelio Partners; Board Member, German British Forum; Board Member, Chapter Zero
Mark Cumberlege: Founding Partner, Fidelio Partners
Alistair Stranack: Partner, Fidelio Partners
Stephen Cheetham: Senior Consultant, Fidelio Partners
To learn more about Fidelio's “A Seat at the Table” Board Learning Programme, contact Amy at awright@fideliopartners.com.
For further details regarding Fidelio's Search, Evaluation and Development capability, contact Gillian Karran-Cumberlege at gkarrancumberlege@fideliopartners.com.
