covid19

Governance Watch - Issue 67

Governance Watch - Issue 67

Pay and Accountability

We might have “turned the tide” in the fight against coronavirus, as UK Prime Minster Boris Johnson said at Tuesday’s media briefing, but the prevailing sentiment in the country from boardrooms to active working living rooms remains one of uncertainty. We do not know how long the pandemic will rule our lives or how extensive the economic damage left in its wake will be. But we can reaffirm what we deem acceptable standards of corporate behaviour, and a sharp critical focus of corporate governance must inevitably remain on pay.

Governance Watch - Issue 66

Governance Watch - Issue 66

Investors and Stewardship

Investor stewardship has become the guardian of good corporate governance in this pandemic. Will it remain that way as we find a way to live and work beyond Covid-19? Only time – and the behaviour of business - will tell. However, it is clear, as lockdown starts to ease with caution in part of the United Kingdom, that ESG – the acronym taking in the environmental, societal and governance considerations for any business – has been thrust to the forefront. We will have to wait and see how high it features in the consideration of corporate governance by businesses aiming to serve society better by their actions.

Governance Watch - Issue 65

Governance Watch - Issue 65

On Governance, Ethics, Data – And Collaboration

We think of corporate governance as the essence of a business, good for building better companies which inspire public trust and that is why we spend so much time focusing on getting the thinking on the principles of governance right.

Every business faces daily challenges today the likes of which we have not seen before, due to technological advances, global supply chains, rising concern on environmental and climate risk, changing consumer attitudes and more. But the coronavirus pandemic must be the biggest challenge faced by corporate governance in a very long time. It is also one that should bring minds back to focus on fundamental issues of ethics and what we value.

The rise and rise of Amazon as a near instant delivery business that has continued to operate with remarkable efficiency has been apparent in recent weeks. It said recently it was looking to hire another 100,000 workers in the US and announced a raise in pay in the US, UK and Europe as it tries to meet the surge in demand for online shopping.

Governance Watch - Issue 64

Governance Watch - Issue 64

Governance in A Pandemic

Less than five hours after the UK’s Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, delivered what was being called an emergency coronavirus Budget yesterday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared coronavirus a pandemic. A global pandemic is declared when a new disease for which people do not have immunity spreads around the world. The UK government is convening a second meeting of Cobra, its emergency committee today, and it is expected to announce that it is stepping up its response to the coronavirus while other countries also take action.

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