Governance

In many organizations, diversity and inclusion efforts are enterprise-wide, but a survey by legal and compliance recruiter BarkerGilmore found that most companies aren’t using broad strategies to increase the diversity of their in-house legal teams. Still, despite the fact that about 37% of those surveyed say their companies have no strategy in place regarding DEI recruitment, the majority employed at...

In September, the EPA issued a decision to prevent previously unregulated stormwater pollution from flowing into the watersheds of three Massachusetts rivers. Though the agency has had the authority to do so, it’s the first time the EPA has exercised its residual designation authority under the Clean Water Act on such a broad scale. ESG columnist John Peiserich, with the...

Board directors don’t need to be able to fix a broken server, but they do need basic technology competence, which many still lack. Jean Hill of Alvarez and Marsal shares her guidance for probing questions directors should put to their CIOs and CISOs. Any corporate board member knows how to read a balance sheet or analyze an income statement. But...

Global economic uncertainty notwithstanding, 2023 is certain to bring a host of emerging risks for board directors to navigate. One of the biggest? Our old friend ESG; Helle Bank Jorgensen, CEO of Competent Boards, sets the stage for what’s to come this year. As boards began to reconvene in 2023 after the holiday season, they faced a uniquely challenging world....

Companies continue to make strides in ESG reporting. Deloitte Analysis How Well-Prepared Are Companies for ESG Reporting? What’s in this report from Deloitte:A new survey from global consulting firm Deloitte shows that while public companies are making progress in building their ESG reporting infrastructure, challenges remain. According to the company’s survey, nearly 3 in 5 executives (57%) say their companies...

Economy, cybersecurity, ESG disclosures will dominate 2023 for directors. Top Five Risk Trends for Boards Directors & Officers Insurance Insights 2023 What’s in this report from Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty:Recessionary fears, cybersecurity and impending requirements for ESG disclosures are the top risks facing corporate boards and officers in 2023, according to a report by insurance company Allianz Global Corporate...

Corporate America seems to agree — DEI is important and should be among any company’s top priorities. But getting there is a different story. Torch’s Elizabeth Weingarten explores the disconnect between what business says it’s doing and the reality on the ground — and offers a solution to split the difference. Signals that DEI matters — to more than just...

The SEC has finalized its long-awaited clawback policy mandated by the Dodd-Frank Act, issuing final rules that are scheduled to go into effect in late January 2023. ESG columnist John Peiserich offers his take on the nuances of the rule and the ripple effects it might have. The rule, formally titled “Listing Standards for Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation Final...

It’s easy to think of your company’s board of directors as simply a group of individuals. But OnBoard’s Rob Kunzler says it’s actually a stew of personalities, with most people falling into one of five types. How can you make sure your blend is just right? Companies tend to think about boards in terms of attendance, size or capacity to...

Even as federal rulemakers are poised to issue ESG-related guidance, state leaders are using their powers to pump the brakes. ESG columnist John Peiserich explores how in Republican-led states Indiana and Louisiana, that means targeting rules around investing and securities.  The attorneys general for both Indiana and Louisiana, both Republicans, have issued opinions that ESG criteria violate the fiduciary duty...

As federal rulemakers continue to shape guidance around ESG, corporate leaders have eagerly awaited the hint of clarity the rules are expected to bring. Too bad there’s the small matter of state lawmakers. ESG columnist John Peiserich sets the stage for the upcoming clash between federal and state rules. A major challenge for companies today is balancing the demands of...

Serious risks to your company’s financial and reputational health probably aren’t going to walk up and introduce themselves. Protiviti’s Jim DeLoach offers tips on digging to reveal these potential pitfalls. Risk transparency is vital to every company. When Mary Barra became CEO of General Motors in 2014, she had no idea her first order of business would be to preside...