Governance

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...

How are public company boards of directors adapting to movements like ESG and board diversity? Exploring the Changing Governance Landscape PwC 2022 Annual Corporate Directors Survey What’s in this whitepaper from PwC:Expectations from both consumers and shareholders are rising, and as PwC’s annual survey shows, board oversight and practices are shifting in response. Here are a few key findings for...

Among public company directors' many obligations is mitigating ESG-related risks to the company, but as ESG columnist John Peiserich points out, in many organizations that means thinking about the environmental implications and not much else.  Former SEC Commissioner Allison Herren Lee gave an incredibly insightful keynote address at the 2021 Society for Corporate Governance National Conference and spoke to the...

The SEC is expected to publish its final rules regarding ESG disclosures later this year, and in the meantime, both the agency and consumers have been busy making noise about companies’ environmental records. Experts say that without a sober evaluation of claims, you could be risking your very reputation. Edited 10/06/22 “Seafood With Standards.” “Traceable. Sustainable. Responsible.” “These are more...

Reputation is like a ticket to the big game. Show it at the door, or you won’t get in. It is also irreplaceable. Lose it, and it’s game over. Protiviti’s Jim DeLoach offers four tips for nurturing and preserving your company’s most precious asset — its reputation. A company can tarnish and even ruin its reputation with a single exercise...

As we await the SEC’s final decision on climate disclosures, companies will continue to gather and report data related to environment, social and governance programs. ESG columnist John Peiserich explores the main drivers of pre-regulatory ESG reporting. ESG data collecting and reporting is among the fastest changing, most highly watched and most complicated corporate obligations today. Interestingly, in the United...

High-profile CEO departures put a fine point on a broader corporate trend: Top company leaders are exiting their roles in 2022 in greater numbers than early in the pandemic. Making the wrong hire at CEO can be devastating for a company. That’s why OnBoard founder and CEO Paroon Chadha recommends boards of directors take a proactive and continuing approach to...

Companies large and small are expected to deepen their focus on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs over the next several years. But as Janet M. Stovall and Evynn McFalls of NeuroLeadership Institute explain, going beyond lip service means committing to constant improvement efforts. Several months after a splashy public announcement about advancing diversity, equity and inclusion, a company promoted...

As Moderna’s CFO-for-a-day gaffe illustrates, effective due diligence is equivalent to regular preventive care, something you’d think a pharma giant might understand. But as due diligence and risk management expert Candice Tal discusses, some companies are still unaware of the danger inherent in not digging deep enough, especially when it comes to high-profile positions. The day after Jorge Gomez joined...

Getting started with your environmental, social and governance program. Getting Started With ESG Definitive Guide to ESG About this guide from Navex:This definitive guide to getting started with an ESG program is a comprehensive resource full of tips, advice and examples to help companies implement and manage ESG as a part of a complete risk and compliance strategy. For anyone...