The Boardroom Blog

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‘Comply or explain’ is working, says FRC

Wednesday, December 14, 2011 | Posted by: Ben Langford
Categories: Governance, Stewardship Code, Thought Leadership | Tags: governance, FRC, Corporate Governance, FTSE 350, Corporate Governance Review, UK Corporate Governance Code, Stewardship Code, guidance, Turnbull, comply or explain, institutional investors, Financial Reporting Lab

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC), which oversees the UK’s corporate governance codes, released a new report today showing a strong uptake of new provisions among companies and shareholders. But the review also highlights some ongoing areas of concern…

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Corporate Governance Review 2011: Four areas for FTSE 350 to refocus on

Wednesday, November 23, 2011 | Posted by: Simon Lowe
Categories: Governance, Thought Leadership | Tags: governance, risk, Corporate Governance, Simon Lowe, FTSE 350, Corporate Governance Review, annual report, risk management, diversity, chairman, principal risks, comply or explain, annual reports, FTSE 100, FTSE 250

Our 10th annual Corporate Governance Review highlights the current trends and challenges that face the FTSE 350. While the UK’s top performing companies have made considerable achievements over the last decade, the review shows where the new focus areas lie.

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New UK Takeover Code changes explained post-Cadbury/Kraft

Tuesday, November 15, 2011 | Posted by: Grant Thornton
Categories: Governance, Thought Leadership | Tags: report, M&A, finance, mergers, acquisitions, Cadbury, Takeover Code, Kraft, takeovers, takeover panel, hostile

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The acquisition of Cadbury plc by the US-based Kraft Food Inc in 2010 caused a public outcry and political debate on the UK takeover regime. As a result, new rules have come into force on UK public company takeovers. What are the key amendments, and how will they impact future M&A and takeover activity?

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Are UK businesswomen more likely to be CEOs, FDs or in another director role?

Thursday, September 01, 2011 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Research, Thought Leadership | Tags: business, statistics, survey, report, data, UK, CEO, Board, FD, CFO, finance director, women, gender, diversity, women in business, IBR, infographic, International Business Report

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Find out which senior management positions UK businesswomen are getting with our visualisation of data from the 2011 Grant Thornton International Business Report (IBR), which reveals the distribution of roles across UK boardrooms.

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Bribery Act: seven weeks left to act

Tuesday, May 10, 2011 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Corruption, Thought Leadership | Tags: risk, due diligence, Bribery Act, bribery, legislation, anti-corruption, corruption, anti-corruption legislation, assessment

The UK Bribery Act comes into force on 1 July 2011 and in our experience companies underestimate the time required to implement an anti-corruption strategy. So for those who have yet to act, and have less than two months to do so, what do you need to know?

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What’s new for FDs in 2011

Friday, May 06, 2011 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: FRC, Governance, Thought Leadership | Tags: governance, report, FD, CFO, pensions, finance director, Bribery Act, financial reporting, anti-corruption, IFRS, guide, news, UK GAAP, iXBRL, auto-enrolment, regulatory

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Are you a finance director? Here’s a quick guide to all the new financial reporting issues and regulatory changes set to impact private and listed companies this year.

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Essentials unravelled for non-executive directors

Tuesday, April 05, 2011 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: FRC, Governance, Non-executive director, Thought Leadership | Tags: tax, governance, report, FRC, Board, pensions, Bribery Act, financial reporting, UK Corporate Governance Code, NEDs, NED, FRRP, iXBRL, guidance, auto-enrolment

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What issues will be topical during the current reporting cycle for private and non-listed companies? And what are their wider business concerns? Grant Thornton’s new guide helps non-executive directors (NEDs) understand the issues.

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Executive salaries and bonuses – time to take stock

Monday, January 10, 2011 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Governance, Thought Leadership | Tags: governance, economy, talent, incentives, remuneration, salaries, performance, salary, bonuses, share options, pay, shareholders, reward, executive, incentivise, results

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FTSE 100 director bonuses fell by 30% last year but have jumped 22% this year. Basic salaries and share incentives are also up. Are the good times back? Damon Syson reviews the lie of the land for executive salaries.

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UK finance directors report on their key priorities

Wednesday, January 05, 2011 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Thought Leadership | Tags: statistics, investment, survey, report, risk, data, FD, advice, Directorbank, CFO, talent, finance director, analysis, skills

If you could ask a fellow finance director for their advice in the current economy, what do you think they would say? A number of outstanding finance directors shared their views in Grant Thornton’s FD survey, researched in conjunction with Directorbank.

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The governance landscape is changing - are you ready?

Friday, December 10, 2010 | Posted by: Simon Lowe
Categories: Governance, Research, Thought Leadership | Tags: FTSE 350, board, UK Corporate Governance Code, Stewardship Code, chairman, governance,

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Our 2010 FTSE 350 Corporate Governance Code highlights key issues in governance trends in the UK’s leading companies and assesses whether they are prepared for the requirements of new governance guidance

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Cream of the crop: the Grant Thornton Quoted Company Awards 2011 shortlist

Friday, December 10, 2010 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Thought Leadership | Tags: Grant Thornton, awards, Quoted Company Awards, shortlist, QCA

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The Grant Thornton Quoted Company Awards in January is the first big business and networking event of the year. So what is it all about and who are this year’s contenders?

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How should an FD be incentivised?

Wednesday, December 08, 2010 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Research, Thought Leadership | Tags: statistics, survey, report, data, FD, Directorbank, CFO, talent, incentives, finance director, analysis, private equity, skills, stake, Plc

There were some differences in how the directors thought an FD should be incentivised, against the views of the outstanding FDs themselves, according to Grant Thornton’s recent survey, researched in conjunction with Directorbank

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How does private equity drive FD behaviours?

Thursday, December 02, 2010 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Research, Thought Leadership | Tags: statistics, survey, report, data, M&A, FD, advice, Directorbank, CFO, investors, finance director, analysis, private equity, skills, shareholders, risk attitude

Private equity remains a significant part of the UK economy and is often under the microscope. It remains a dominant force in the M&A market. In our survey of 350 directors, we asked whether having a stake in a private equity business drives different behaviours – 70% of them said that it does.

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How does an FD gain commercial skills?

Wednesday, December 01, 2010 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Research, Thought Leadership | Tags: statistics, survey, report, data, FD, advice, Directorbank, CFO, talent, finance director, analysis, skills, commercial, experience

Understanding the business and getting as much commercial exposure as early as possible is critical for becoming a successful FD, according to Grant Thornton’s recent survey, researched in conjunction with Directorbank. But how? A number of outstanding finance directors share their views…

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Unsung heroes: Grant Thornton and Directorbank recognise outstanding FDs

Wednesday, November 24, 2010 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Research, Thought Leadership | Tags: Grant Thornton, survey, report, data, CEO, FD, Directorbank, interview, CFO, finance director, video, analysis, Swag Mukerji, John Pearce, Roger Matthews, chair, repor

Finance directors aren’t normally the face of the company, or even seen as big names of the business world, yet it’s often the case that they are the beating heart of a successful company. Our recent What makes an outstanding FD? report, researched in conjunction with Directorbank, highlights that it’s time their worth is recognised. We also interview three directors – including Directorbank’s MD John Pearce (below) who talks about the growing importance of the finance director’s role .

 

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Comparing corporate governance in India and the UK

Wednesday, November 17, 2010 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Governance, Thought Leadership | Tags: business, India, investment, governance, risk, FRC, M&A, bribery, Stewardship Code, anti-corruption, banking crisis, scandals

Corporate scandals involving companies like the Maxwell Group, Enron, WorldCom and Satyam, and the recent banking crisis, have influenced the corporate governance norms in the US, the UK and India. Our recent India Watch article examines the key differences between the corporate governance regimes in both the UK and India.

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How to get noticed as an outstanding FD (and get the top jobs)

Friday, November 05, 2010 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Thought Leadership | Tags: statistics, survey, report, data, CEO, international, FD, Directorbank, CFO, talent, finance director, skills, commercial, communication, networking, career, chief exec, experience, expertise, accountants

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What FD skills were most highly rated by 350 directors in our new survey, researched in conjunction with Directorbank. Plus, five top finance directors give their views on how to get the top jobs.

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Is your FD a chief exec or chair in waiting?

Thursday, October 28, 2010 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Thought Leadership | Tags: statistics, survey, report, data, CEO, Board, FD, Directorbank, CFO, talent, finance director, analysis, skills, career, chief exec, chair, expertise, progression, commerical

Is becoming a CEO or chair a natural progression for an FD? Which is a more suitable role? When doesn’t it work? Find out what 350 directors thought about career paths for finance directors in our FD survey, researched in conjunction with Directorbank.

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How to assess your risk strategy – a checklist

Thursday, October 14, 2010 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Risk, Thought Leadership | Tags: business, recession, governance, risk, strategy, tips, risk management, questionnaire, tools, questions

This set of expert questions, asked by Grant Thornton’s risk services team, is designed to trigger a full and in-depth boardroom discussion on the quality of your risk management processes.

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Two CEOs, two diaries, two tough business challenges

Wednesday, September 01, 2010 | Posted by: Fiona Cullinan
Categories: Thought Leadership | Tags: business, Alex Connock, links, media, Ros Simmons, business models, CEO, diary, retail, chief exec

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Chief executives Alex Connock and Ros Simmons were both facing tough challenges in their business last summer. One was fighting a shifting media battlefield seeking new business models; the other was taking her retail company international. Every week, they blogged their thoughts and agendas here on the Grant Thornton Thinking Blogs. Here’s how they did…

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