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Diversity in the Executive Pipeline

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An article by Advanced Boardroom Excellence for the LexisNexis Company Secretary’s Review, Vol 38, No. 16, Published on 19 November 2014

In this article Helen Pitcher from Advanced Boardroom Excellence considers the need for diversity in the executive pipeline, and the important role played by non-executive directors.

As we consider the future of boards and reflect on past failings and misadventures it is important to remind ourselves of the capabilities and skills that non-executive directors (“NEDs”) are designed to bring to a company.

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Take care of the board amateurs

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Take care of the board amateurs

An article by Carly Chynoweth for The Sunday Times originally published on 26 October 2014

When some non-executives are elected as ‘lay’ directors, the chairman may need to fill in gaps in their knowledge and stop top-level bullying.

IMAGE: Lesley-Anne Alexander, chairwoman of Acevo, where most of the board is elected by the members, says she appoints extra directors to fill any gaps (Akira Suemori)

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Excitement builds for the HR NETWORK National Awards 2014

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Excitement builds for the HR NETWORK National Awards 2014

The shortlisted finalists for this years Hr NETWORK National Awards 2014 will soon be announced ahead of the Nominees lunch taking place in October. Advanced Boardroom Excellence are sponsoring this year's CEO Award. 

The Hr NETWORK National Awards are the largest and most prestigious HR awards in Scotland. Launched in early 2007, the awards are designed to recognise, acknowledge and reward the champions of the Scottish HR profession.

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Are you on the crest of the diversity wave – or struggling to catch up?

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An article by Advanced Boardroom Excellence for INFORMED, the quarterly magazine of The Investor Relations Society, Autumn issue 2014, no 84.

Ensuring that the board has a good response to external questions about diversity is a vital part of the IRO’s work. Helen Pitcher looks at the issues involved in this area.

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The lack of women in senior roles in UK corporates is not just a women’s issue

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The lack of women in senior roles in UK corporates is not just a women’s issue

Advanced Boardroom Excellence, leading advisers in developing individual and collective director effectiveness, has today published a research report on diversity, with a focus on female talent in organisations.

The Report looks at this diversity agenda through the eyes of 70 successful women leaders and provides an insight into the extraordinary waste of female talent being overlooked.

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And just who is responsible for diversity?

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And just who is responsible for diversity?

An article by Advanced Boardroom Excellence for HR Networks magazine

The change in the diversity environment is notoriously slow and ponderous. Here Helen Pitcher Chairman of Advanced Boardroom Excellence, a Board Effectiveness Consultancy ponders the speed of change and suggests we are at a significant point in the business cycle with regard to diversity.

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Gender pay gap: female bosses earn 35% less than male colleagues

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Gender pay gap: female bosses earn 35% less than male colleagues

An article by Simon Goodley for The Guardian 

Originally published on Tuesday 19 August 2014 at www.theguardian.com

Four decades after the Equal Pay Act, male company directors take home £21,000 a year more than female counterparts.

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RI Europe 2014

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RI Europe 2014

The 7th annual RI Europe 2014 was held in London at The Tower Hotel from 3rd to 5th June 2014 and was attended by 500+ delegates. 

Helen Pitcher, Advance Boardroom Excellence’s chairman, spoke at the investor-corporate summit on the 4th and 5th June on board diversity and gender: Are today’s corporate boards fit for a fast-moving, mixed economy?

The RI Europe 2014 Post Conference Report is now available (PDF 3.2MB)

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The International Women’s Forum (IWF) is granted ‘Special Consultative Status’ to the United Nations

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The International Women’s Forum (IWF) is granted ‘Special Consultative Status’ to the United Nations

The International Women’s Forum (IWF) announced to it’s members that, on the recommendation of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), it has been granted ‘Special Consultative Status’ to the United Nations on the issue of the protection and growth of women's leadership.

As part of its Special Consultative Status, IWF and its selected representatives located in UN headquarters in New York and offices in Geneva and Vienna will be asked to:

  • Provide expert analysis in the field of women's leadership
  • Serve as consultative advisor on critical issues affecting women's leadership
  • Help raise public awareness of relevant issues relating to women's leadership
  • Play a major role in advancing United Nations goals and objectives in regards to women's leadership

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Remuneration Committee Aspects of Board Effectiveness Reviews

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An article by Advanced Boardroom Excellence for the Executive Compensation Briefing

Boardroom effectiveness consultancy Advanced Boardroom Excellence looks at how the principles of board effectiveness reviews apply to the particular challenges faced by the remuneration committee.

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KidsOut Big Day Out - Drayton Manor

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KidsOut Big Day Out - Drayton Manor

Joanne Writtle reports for BBC Midlands Today

A day out is something we all love but for children with poor health or other issues a visit to somewhere such as a theme park can be really special. The KidsOut charity has been organising trips for disadvantaged children for 25 years. Its largest gathering took place today with three and a half thousand children invited to Drayton Manor Park near Tamworth.

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The Board's Strategic Succession Imperative

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The Board's Strategic Succession Imperative

An article by Advanced Boardroom Excellence for Governance

First published by Governance, May 2014, Issue 239

Helen Pitcher argues that succession planning needs to be broader than simply board level appointments and should include identifying the talent pipeline within.

'… succession needs a 20-year horizon not the limited three- to five-year horizon that spans a typical CEO’s tenure. Interestingly, organisations that have focused in depth on such matters have had long-standing CEO’s, stellar performance and a clear and deeper focus on their talent, providing both formal development, stretch assignments and exposure to the board.'

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External Board Evaluations

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An article by Advanced Boardroom Excellence for the LexisNexis Company Secretary’s Review
Vol 37, No. 23, Published on 26 February 2014

Last month a new draft Code of Practice on independent external board evaluations was published. Seamus Gillen from Advanced Boardroom Excellence explains the reason for producing the draft Code, sets out the contents of the Code, and considers what will happen next.

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Who Evaluates the Evaluators?

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Who Evaluates the Evaluators?

An article by Advanced Boardroom Excellence for Governance

Helen Pitcher looks at the emergence of the external independent board evaluation market and a new draft Code of Conduct for the industry.

'Recognising true board effectiveness is not just a matter of governance, important though that is, but of addressing boardroom behaviour at an individual and collective level.'

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Advanced Boardroom Excellence launches a Code of Practice for Board Evaluations

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Originally published on 4 Feb 2014 by Hr NETWORK News

Advanced Boardroom Excellence, leading advisers in developing individual and collective director effectiveness, has recently launched a Code of Practice for Independent External Board Evaluations (the “Code”). The Code sets out guidelines for achieving a high-quality board evaluation with reference to the Financial Reporting Council’s Guidance on Board Effectiveness.

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Better Boards Evaluation Code Proposed

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Better Boards Evaluation Code Proposed

An article by Dina Medland for The Financial Times
Originally published on Thursday January 30 2014

External evaluation of board strength has become a lucrative business, with many participants and growing concerns about standards.

To address these, a proposed code of practice was launched last week, along with a framework enabling companies and boardroom advisers to work more effectively together.

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Boardroom Standards Scrutiny

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A City A.M. news article
Originally posted on January 24, 2014 at www.cityam.com

Board evaluations – used by companies to improve their practices in the boardroom – need to be improved according to Helen Pitcher, an expert on corporate governance...

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Advanced Boardroom Excellence launches a Code of Practice for Board Evaluations

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Advanced Boardroom Excellence launches a Code of Practice for Board Evaluations

Advanced Boardroom Excellence (“AB Excellence”), leading advisers in developing individual and collective director effectiveness, has today launched a Code of Practice for Independent External Board Evaluations (the “Code”). The Code sets out guidelines for achieving a high-quality board evaluation with reference to the Financial Reporting Council’s Guidance on Board Effectiveness.

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Raising Standards In Board Evaluation (Someone Has To Do It)

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An excerpt from a Board Talk post by Dina Medland
Originally posted on 19 January 2014 at www.dinamedland.com

We could see a real basis for progress by shining an important light into board evaluation - how is it done, who does it, what do they charge, what are their relationships with the people who hire them - ie chairmen of FTSE350 companies? While agreements on confidentiality are important, a cry for 'discretion' can too easily become abusive to a productive boardroom process.

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