Contents

Independent directors?

Board effectiveness

Draft guidance on board effectiveness has been published by the ICSA for consultation, focusing on the role of the chairman, the importance of effective challenge in the boardroom and the advantages of board diversity.

Scepticism in audit practice

The Auditing Practices Board (APB) of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is opening discussions about what needs to be done to ensure that the appropriate degree of scepticism is applied by auditors in practice.

Annual re-election causes concerns

FTSE 350 chairmen have greeted the mandatory annual re-election of boards (demanded in the new UK Corporate Governance Code) with concern, according to recent research conducted by IDDAS.

European governance conference

Last month 278 delegates from 17 different countries, including Brazil and the US, met in Madrid to discuss the current state of corporate governance in Europe.

Electronic voting for shareholders in New Zealand

Committee to overhaul global reporting standards

Risky business

South Africa – challenges ahead



Gender diversity

Can regulators do more?

In a recent speech Hector Sants looked at whether regulators should have a role to play in relation to the ethics and culture of the firms they regulate.