Boardroom Excellence

In Boardroom Excellence, author Paul Brountas, a corporate attorney with more than forty years experience, discusses the qualities and components of effective boards in today’s post-Enron environment. Written in a concise format, the book is filled with informative practical advice for board members of private, public, and nonprofit organizations. Boardroom Excellence contains an informed discussion of fundamental corporate governance issues, including the duties and responsibilities of directors and the proper interaction of the board with the CEO and management. Brountas reveals how board members can be most effective when they are independent, possess integrity, are well-informed and involved, and are proactive. Boardroom Excellence offers timely information about Establishing the values and qualities that board members should possess Developing an environment in the boardroom where skepticism and serious discussion are encouraged Understanding what the CEO expects of the board and what the board expects of the CEO Creating effective independent audit, compensation, nominating, and governance committees Formulating guidelines for periodic evaluation of the performance of the board and individual board members

Corporate governance has become a hot topic on both sides of the Atlantic. Myths and misunderstandings abound. What constitutes a competent director and an effective board? How are directors selected and prepared for boardroom appointments? How can a director become a more effective member of the boardroom team? Are you satisfied wit the performance and composition of your company's board?

The perfect board - Board manners and the director from hell - Things boards could do better - Ten best practices of modern corporate governance - Board and director evaluation - Advisory boards - Board responsibilities - Compensation of company directors - Director accreditation - Executive compensation issues - The rubber meets the road : challenges facing corporations - Corporate responsability - Institutional investors - Some contemporary board issues : hostile takeovers - Three core principles of effective coporate governance.

Boardroom Secrets focuses on the, processes, and behaviours for a board of directors to ensure good governance. The book focuses on behavioral aspects of governance such as how to evaluate and process information provided to the board, how to critically question without de-motivating, and how to balance interests of different stakeholders.

Praise for Boardroom Realities "Authored by a 'who's who' roster of governance experts, Boardroom Realities covers the latest trends in board leadership and performance as well as talent management for the board and the C-suite—all critical topics for any director serious about board service today." —Kenneth Daly, president and CEO, National Association of Corporate Directors "If leadership and effectiveness in the boardroom were important in a more benign environment, they're absolutely vital in today's tumultuous times. Boardroom Realities provides a modern and detailed road map to help steer chairmen, CEOs, and boards through these uncharted governance waters." —Peter Weinberg, partner, Perella Weinberg Partners "Jay Conger's Boardroom Realities offers a unique perspective on governance through leadership, rather than compliance, and should compel all directors to revisit the focus of board deliberations, especially at this time of unprecedented economic and financial turmoil." —Alison A. Winter, cofounder, WomenCorporateDirectors, and a corporate director for Nordstrom, Inc. "Boardroom Realities is a very comprehensive compilation of useful insights on key issues that boards must deal with every day. It's an excellent resource for board members as well as members of management who must work together to ensure good governance on behalf of shareholders." —Ronald D. Sugar, chairman of the board and CEO, Northrop Grumman Corporation "Jay Conger has collected critical insights and the latest thinking on board leadership from many of today's foremost governance thinkers. Boardroom Realities is a must for your board and for any comprehensive corporate governance library." —Ralph D. Ward, publisher, Boardroom INSIDER, and author, The New Boardroom Leaders

Distinguished governance experts offer cures for what ails our boards of directors In light of corporate malfeasance in recent years, the governance of corporations has been receiving great attention from regulators, researchers, shareholders, and directors themselves. Based on Richard Leblanc's in-depth five-year study of 39 boards of directors of both for- and not-for-profit organizations, Building a Better Board goes behind the scenes to reveal the inner workings of boards of directors, including how they make decisions. Recently chosen as one of Canada's "Top 40 Under 40"(TM), Dr Richard Leblanc is an award-winning teacher and researcher, certified management consultant, professional speaker, professor, lawyer and specialist on boards of directors. He can be reached at [email protected]. James Gillies, PhD (Toronto, Ontario, Canada), is Professor Emeritus at the Schulich School of Business, York University, where he serves as Chair of the Canada-Russia Corporate Governance Program.

This book is an exceptional resource for leaders at every level across industries. An insightful guidebook comprised of 40 illuminating principles showcasing the fundamental competencies that impact performance in the boardroom and beyond, each chapter includes the following core components: 1) a robust, but succinct discussion introducing each principle; 2) key strategies providing straightforward guidance on how to master each principle; 3) a selection of thoughtful journal questions that allow for meaningful introspection, and finally, 4) a leadership challenge—a stretch goal—that brings each principle into immediate, scalable focus. Whether a seasoned or emerging leader, each reader will discover useful perspectives contained within each chapter designed to firmly orient their thinking and behavior towards leadership excellence. An enduring resource for circumstances in which every leader will inevitably find him or herself confronting, it will also serve as the “go to” professional development resource for elevating leadership brands and facilitating the necessary trench work required to develop competent and confident leaders regardless of industry or expertise. Different from traditional books that provide a one-dimensional view of what leadership is and do little more than categorize existing traits, Poised for Excellence breaks the mold. It creates the context for understanding leadership development as a holistic process: By focusing on the mastery of fundamental principles structured to develop the whole person through service to self and others, it ignites an evolutionary process that cultivates 360 degrees of effective leadership. It directs readers to stake a bold claim to their success and transform the way they show up in the boardroom and beyond. Poised for Excellence was written to nurture the leadership potential in business leaders who desire to operate in excellence and believe that learning and practice are non-negotiable aspects of leadership success.

Many firms have implemented corporate governance, yet have fallen into collapse and scandal involving their operations. What has gone wrong? This is the definitive, practical guide to the ever changing corporate governance landscape highlighting the potential pitfalls, tackling the issues, placing blame where appropriate, and recommending possible solutions to these problems. It ensures that you are up to date and compliant with best practice giving you complete confidence that you are continuing to function within the legal, ethical and practical parameters of corporate governance. Updates to the 8th edition relate to the new versions of the Corporate Governance Codes, including: - Financial Reporting Council (February 2017), Audit Tenders: Notes on Best Practice. - Financial Reporting Council (July 2016), Corporate Culture: Key to Sustainable Growth. - The Institute of Internal Auditors Inc. (January 2017), International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing. - Financial Reporting Council (July 2018), Guidance on Board Effectiveness. - Financial Reporting Council (July 2018), UK Corporate Governance Code. - Financial Reporting Council (December 2018), The Wates Corporate Governance Principles for Large Private Companies. - Quoted Companies Alliance (2018) Corporate Governance Code.