Environmental, Social & Governance Briefs

In advising non-director officers about conduct that could give rise to fiduciary claims, it is prudent to routinely advise that they take steps to meet the conditions of the business judgment rule. However, practitioners should also keep in mind that there may be a question whether officers will be entitled to that protection.

Sophie L’Helias, a senior fellow with The Conference Board Governance Center and founder of the LeaderXXchange, was named to Global Proxy Watch’s “2018 GPW 10” list.

Despite research suggesting most consumers feel that businesses should take an active role in driving social and environmental changes, in 2019 companies are likely to tone down their public advocacy. As companies plan for 2019 with a divided government in Washington, it could be important to navigate new policies and regulations with dialogue on the issues.

This Q&A with Norm Prestage discusses the job of the corporate director from his perspective as a partner with EY. He feels like the best directors have a deep understanding of company strategy and risk profile, act as a sounding board for management, and are keenly aware of stakeholder concerns.

Artificial intelligence (AI) could help to address significant societal challenges, including those identified in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For organizations that seek to use such technology for social good, an understanding of the existing use cases and potential for social impact should be considered within the context of a heightened regulatory framework that might stifle successes.

This Q&A with Sharad Jain discusses the job of the corporate director from his perspective as a partner with PwC’s Governance Insights Center. He touches upon topics like the external auditor’s direct reporting line to the audit committee and the challenge of a board’s oversight of a company’s tone at the top.