Articles archive
These are older research and published articles from Advanced boardroom Excellence.
Boards can no longer afford to ignore culture meaning HR's knowledge is sorely needed, according to chair of Advanced Boardroom Excellence Helen Pitcher OBE.
In a changing world, with pressures at global, regional and local levels, the motivations of companies are in the mix. These changes range from a rapidly increasing complexity of the business environment, through to heightened consumer ethical awareness, to a fracturing political landscape.
Independent external board evaluations emerged in parallel with the general development of the governance code for companies. The question now arises whether their current shape is fit for purpose in the modern corporate environment, where society/CSR and employee engagement are playing an increasing part in the context of a company’s right to operate and accumulate numerous benefits and advantages from society?
The sustainability of companies and businesses able to contribute and benefit all of their stakeholders, is increasingly at the forefront of the minds of Politicians, Regulators, Society Pressure groups and Individuals. It is also the clarion call of the massive Pension Investment sector focused on aligning investments to positive benefits and stewardship for society.
HR magazine gathered HRDs, including Helen Pitcher OBE to determine the skills future HR leaders will need to excel.
In the UK, a quota was imposed following the 2011 publication of the Davies Report, which set a target of 25% females on FTSE 100 Boards by 2015 – which was achieved. The subsequent Hampton-Alexander Review (both INSEAD alumni) upped the target to 33%, but, more importantly, reinforced the Davies’s aspiration to drive such targets deep into the FTSE 350, with a focus on the development of a pipeline of women leaders destined for the executive committee.
LEAD magazine recently interviewed Syreeta Brown winner of the Black British Business Award. In the article, she discussed her career progression, what the award meant to her and her role on Advanced Boardroom Excellence's Panel of Influential Women. She also talked about how Advance Boardroom Excellence focused on individual and collective director effectiveness.
Helen Pitcher OBE has been quoted in HR Magazine’s latest issue.
The latest HRMI rankings were compiled in a significant year for the profession, with those making the lists demonstrating the skills needed to deal with the big HR issues hitting the news.
This time last year the name Harvey Weinstein was only just crashing onto the news agenda. Gender pay reporting had yet to reach its frantic, last-minute (for some) filing crescendo. The collapse of Carillion and the Financial Reporting Council’s (FRC) new corporate governance code were both still in the offing.
Congratulations to our Chairman Helen Pitcher OBE for her recent appointment as Chairman of the Criminal Cases Review Commission.
She will be Chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) from 1 November 2018 for 3 years. Helen will initially commence as a Commissioner, on a Chair Designate basis from 1 October 2018.
It really is time our industry had a Code of Practice for Board Evaluations. Companies need guidance to get through these troubled times. So it was good news to read that the Business Secretary Greg Clark announced – as part of the insolvency safeguards – measures to develop a code of practice for external board evaluations. (see press release).
Boards are supposed to prevent anything that could cause harm to a company, but some still fail. Stephen Jones writing for Management Today paints a dark picture of our current state of British Boards. Leading industry experts (including Helen Pitcher OBE) offer explanations of what is causing Boards to fail and what can be done to rectify the problem.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of women in the INSEAD MBA programme, INSEAD conducted a global survey of alumni and produced a report on its findings.
There is increasing pressure on boards’ to plan their own succession as well as oversee the executive pipeline, with a strong focus on diversity. This stems from the need to create sustainable businesses with a positive, transparent culture that can be ‘passed on’ through generations of CEO and board transitions, and societal pressure for greater diversity in boards and companies to mirror their customer base and the host society. While the notion of having a ‘social licence to operate’ is in its infancy in Europe, there is an increasing need for businesses to show they are good corporate citizens, with lobby groups focused on fair tax payment, customer and employee advocacy, custodianship of the environment, and positive social impact.
The Women’s Business Council and the Men as Change Agents (MACA) working group launched their MACA toolkit on April 9th from Number 10 Downing Street. The MACA toolkit provides ideas for business leaders to drive towards gender balance in their teams and close the gender pay gap and foster equality in the workplace.
Written by Team NEDonBoard
On Jan 30th, NEDonBoard held its best practice evening on succession planning. Following an initiative by NEDonBoard, the professional body for non-executive directors and board members in the UK, chaired by Helen Pitcher OBE, we host a panel evening to present this new guide. NEDonBoard raises governance standards on boards across the UK by providing board best practice guidance on succession planning.
Written by Helen Pitcher OBE, for INSEAD Knowledge Career Blog
Changing careers at mid-life is an option for more and more executives. Some choose early retirement, others are nudged towards the door, and others decide that doing something that they love is more meaningful and they can afford to get off the corporate track.
Becoming a NED is often considered the next logical professional step after an executive role. NEDs gain new skills, enlarge their networks and better understand other industries. But the competition is tough and it can be difficult to land that first NED position.
By Helen Pitcher OBE for Ethical Boardroom Magazine: Winter 2018
Changing Times. Helen Pitcher OBE writes about the proposed new UK governance code and its impact. The report is under consultation with a target of having the finalised version available in summer 2018, for implementation in January 2019.
By Stanislav Shekshnia for Harvard Business Review
INSEAD’s Corporate Governance Centre have launched a research project asking the questions: What are good practices for the Board chair’s role, and how do they differ from the traditional practices of CEOs and top executives?
The research included a survey of 200 board chairs from 31 countries, 80 interviews with chairs, and 60 interviews with board members, shareholders, and CEOs.
Helen Pitcher OBE, Chairman of Advanced Boardroom Excellence, was recently elected President of the Board of the INSEAD Directors Network and gave a series interviews sharing her background and thoughts for the network.
Published in Governance, November 2017 Issue 279
Helen Pitcher argues that boards need to be opened up to wider thinking, diverse viewpoints, multifaceted experience and real-world engagement to make them increasingly relevant in a modern, dynamic business environment
In the business world, the legacy of inadequate succession planning can include both a strategic mess and a large bill of financial expenses. Despite this, sadly there is no shortage of examples in the media headlines of the occasions when it happens, even with the best will in the world for exemplary corporate governance in our publicly listed boardrooms.
Today, in a Special Edition on INSEAD Directors Forum newsletter, it was announced that from 1st September 2017, INSEAD Corporate Governance Initiative (ICGI) will take on a new identity as INSEAD Corporate Governance Centre (ICGC).
The INSEAD IDP Network Committee today announced that Helen Pitcher, OBE, was elected as new Chair and President of the INSEAD International Directors Network committee, following the annual AGM held on October 14, 2017. Helen takes over from previous chair Christoper de Mattos.
An article by Helen Pitcher OBE for the Company Secretary’s Review
Volume 41, Issue 1, June 2017
This article from Helen Pitcher OBE, Chairman of Advanced Boardroom Excellence looks at the role of the Chairman and the Company Secretary in the design of a Board information architecture and information management strategies.
By Helen Pitcher OBE for Ethical Boardroom : Spring 2017
In the 25 years since the Cadbury Report on corporate governance, how have boards been doing? Are boards able to understand and analyse what makes them effective and successful? Can they articulate and illuminate the characteristics of an effective board?
By Helen Pitcher for HR magazine
January is as good a time as any to reassess life and career goals. However, as with nearly all New Year ‘resolutions,’ it is important to ensure it is not a seasonal ‘flash in the pan’.
What is more conducive to effective career planning is a six month rolling review of whether you are achieving your stated goals. This however implies that you have taken time, soundings and articulated your stated goals in the first place! And that you do not review your goals achievement in isolation, but use a trusted mentor, coach or experienced friend to walk through progress and obstacles.
A guest post by Helen Pitcher for Caffeine
When most people think about effective leadership of an organisation, the first thing that usually comes to mind is the executive team comprising of the C-Suite of roles along with any business critical functions and key directors holding those roles.
London’s leading business club, lounge and meeting space The Clubhouse, turns the tables and puts the focus on all the exciting things their fantastic members are achieving in their 'Member In the Spotlight' feature.
In their August ‘Member in the Spotlight’ feature they speak to member Helen Pitcher OBE, Chairman of Advanced Boardroom Excellence.
By Katie Jacobs for HR Magazine
While the supply of HR directors looking for NED roles still outstrips demand, the tide is slowly turning.
The International Women's Forum UK recently announced Helen Pitcher OBE as the new President elect of the INSEAD Directors Network.