Governing the Global Company

In brief:  Despite the rise in international corporate business activity in nearly every industry—according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), 55 percent of global GDP growth will come from emerging markets by 2019—little has been written about the challenges of governance in a global organization.  Drawing on insights from more than 30 directors who serve on the boards of companies domiciled in North America, Europe and Asia, Governing the Global Company explores questions including:  What are the challenges for directors who sit on the boards of highly complex global companies? What practices help make oversight work most effectively? What are the implications for board composition, director skillsets and key boardroom processes?

How boards can use this resource:

• Assess current boardroom practices, including risk oversight, oversight of the global talent pipeline, and information flow into the boardroom, against the report’s findings.
• Use the takeaways related to board composition in global companies, and suggested questions for director recruitment, as the basis for discussion in nominating & governance committee meetings.
• Individual directors who are considering joining the board of a global company can use the report as a reference during their candidacy.

Most relevant audiences:   Board members of public and private companies with international operations, and prospective directors who are considering joining boards of such companies.