1st Edition
Effective Directors The Right Questions to Ask (QTA)
The Open Access version of this book, available at www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.
Being a good board member is not about knowing everything; it is about asking the right questions and challenging appropriately. Effective Directors: The Right Questions To Ask (QTA) is a reference book for board members and executives globally to support them in their work.
With chapters written by senior company board members and respected figures in corporate governance, the questions have been drawn together to offer food for thought and useful prompts that take boards beyond operational discussions. The book clearly presents key areas to be considered by the board (there are over 50 in total) and range from board composition, to data security, diversity and inclusion, and succession planning. The questions are ones that boards, in any organisation, should be asking themselves, their fellow board members, service providers, executives, and other stakeholders to ensure that the right issues are raised, transparency and effective oversight are achieved, and the board is fulfilling its role in governing the organisation.
In addition to being invaluable for board members, the book is also a very useful tool for executives in understanding the kind of questions their board members are likely to ask, and the kind of questions that should be asked and discussed in the boardroom.
Part I: The Board
1. Board Composition
Chris Hodge
2. Board Appointment
Carol Rosati OBE
3. Director Self Assessment
Alison Gill OLY
4. Assessing the Chair’s Performance
Charlotte Valeur
5. Due Diligence for New Appointments and New Directors
Charlotte Valeur
6. Succession Planning for the Board
Ray Crofts
7. Board Evaluation
Dr. Tracy Long CBE
Part II: Officers of the Company
8. Chief Executive Succession Planning
Kit Bingham
9. Chief Executive Review
Charlotte Valeur
10. Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
Marianne Egelund Siig
11. Health and Wellbeing
Alison Charles
12. Human Resources
Reena Dayal
13. Remuneration for Executives and Management
Brian Kearney
14. Succession Planning for Executives
Tim Drake
Part III: Leadership
15. Leadership in the Boardroom
Dr. Randall Peterson
16. Tone from the Top
Sir John Parker
17. Culture
Charlotte Valeur
18. Ethics and Why they Matter
Knut N. Kjaer
Part IV: Strategy
19. Purpose
R. "Bob Garrett
20. Strategy
Jean Pousson
21. Valueism
Paul Barnett
22. Intellectual Property
Dr. Janice Denoncourt
23. Data Ethics
Tony Fish
Part V: Sustainability
24. Environmental, Social and Governance
Sir Mark Moody-Stuart
25. Climate Change
Dr. Geoff Kendall and Martin Rich
26. Sustainability
Sara Lovisolo
27. Social Impact
Oonagh Harpur
Part VI: Board Meetings
28. Roles and Responsibilities of the Board
Natalie Sykes
29. Board Meetings and the Agenda
Dineshi Ramesh
30. Board Support
Siobhan Lavery
31. Third Party Providers
Charlotte Valeur
32. Board Committees: Purpose, Tasks and Value
Jenny Simnett, Filipe Morais, Andrew Kakabadse
33. Matters Reserved for the Board
David Doughty
34. Soft Governance
Dr. Meena Thuraisingham
Part VII: Accounts
35. Accounts
Ian Wright
36. External Auditors
Helen Gale
37. Solvency and Going Concern
Heather MacCallum
38. Insolvency
Amaechi Nsofor
39. Viability
Steve Maslin
40. Finance
Jean Pousson
Part VIII: Compliance and Risk Management
41. Compliance
Charlotte Valeur
42. Cyber security
Anjola Adeniyi
43. IT Governance
Tony Fish
44. Financial Performance Management
Virginia Bombin Moreno
45. Risk Oversight, Management and Controls
Rajiv Jaitly
Part IX: Communications
46. Reputation
Alice Hunt
47. Corporate Brand
Elliot S. Schreiber
48. Social Media
Marshall Manson and Craig Mullaney
49. Shareholder Relations and Communication
Claire Fargeot
50. Stakeholder Engagement and Management
Alice Hunt
Part X: External Pressure and Disruption
51. Crisis Management
Charlotte Valeur
52. Digitalisation
Claudia Heimer
53. Disruption
Simon Devonshire
54. Artificial Intelligence
Lord Clement Jones
Biography
Charlotte Valeur and Claire Fargeot have over 60 years combined experience of working in and around boards in all types of organisations, all over the world. They deliver training, conduct board reviews and advise and support boards on governance and sustainability issues through their company, Global Governance Group.
"This book is packed with practical insight and tips for directors and those seeking directorships: all those who aspire to deliver to professionally high standards. Experiential learning is gained over time, the latter being a prized commodity; it is hard to be a wise board member who can give valued and thoughtful counsel without having acquired years of experience. How I wish I had been able to access a book such as this written by professionals for those who aspire to be the best they can be in a highly complex business arena."
Jean Church MBE Dip.IoD FIoD, Director My Business Lynq Ltd., Chair of Council (SICM) Institute of Directors
"Never before has directorship proved so challenging for boards as they navigate companies though the perils of Covid-19 while adapting business models to address climate change impacts – all within the context of an ever digitalised world. Effective Directors: The Right Questions to Ask addresses many of these challenges, offering personal insights from some of the world’s most seasoned governance professionals. A MUST read for anyone serving on – or supporting – corporate boards in the 21st century."
Kerrie Waring, Chief Executive Officer, International Corporate Governance Network
"Directors’ duties are increasingly complex. So, what better than a vast range of questions helpfully anticipated by experienced practitioners, directors, academics, and consultants? This comprehensive collection makes this a must for every director!"
Dr Margaret Casely-Hayford CBE
"Five Stars. This is the book I have been waiting for. The breadth board directors have to cover makes it difficult for them to add value and mitigate risk in all areas. Effective Directors: The Right Questions to Ask (QTA) is easy to consume, a practical toolbox and a really useful reference point. The book is a consolidation of the wisdom from many and will enable directors to leap frog their board abilities forward."
John Jeffcock, CEO, Winmark
