Analyzing Board Composition in the US: What the Latest Data Says on Director Independence, Commitments and Diversity
Key Takeaways: Compared to 2024, there were slight increases in board independence (77.5%) and the presence of an independent chair (44.9%). In response to ongoing shareholder concern regarding the substantial increase…
Board Value Index Winter 2025 Edition: UK & North America
Almost half of UK and North American directors are not fully confident in their board’s ability to navigate cyber risk…
The Board Agenda for 2026
4 Trends for CEOs and Boards to Watch in 2026. An old Jack Welsh quote might sum up 2025 best: “If the rate of change on the outside exceeds the rate of change on the inside, the end is near.” And while the end isn’t near for many companies, the rate…
Boardroom bound: Women slowly making inroads into the corporate sanctuaries
Women’s representation on corporate boards is growing — but slowly. The latest report on progress from the Canadian Securities Administrators reveals that in 2023, 29 per cent of director positions in Canada were held by women — a two-point increase…
Women in the Workplace 2025
Women face less career support and fewer opportunities to advance as companies show declining commitment to women’s progress. While women are as dedicated to their careers as men, there is a gap…
2026 Governance Outlook: Insights for the Year Ahead
“Directors are entering 2026 with a focused yet optimistic outlook. As economic and regulatory uncertainty continues, boards are prioritizing stronger oversight, improved risk management, and more disciplined execution to achieve their companies’ strategic…”
The AI reckoning: How boards can evolve
“Artificial intelligence—including its many offspring, from machine learning models to AI agents—is much more than the latest wave of technology. It is a general-purpose capability that is poised to touch almost every sector, function, and role, with…”
Kingsdale Advisors 2025 Proxy Season Review
Shareholder meetings seeking approval for M&A transactions in Canada are at record levels. ISS issued 184 M&A recommendations, a 55% increase over 2024 and well above the five-year average of 142. The Materials sector led activity, while Energy saw the sharpest growth, more than…
Progress on gender diversity in boardrooms stalls out in 2025
“Using data provided by Equilar, 50/50 Women on Boards announced that women now hold 30.1% of board seats at Russell 3000 Index companies, up from 30% a year ago. The percentage had risen by more than one percentage point annually from 2017 to 2023…”
The ethics of silence: when boards choose not to act
“To counter the culture of silence, boards must deliberately cultivate constructive vigilance. This means fostering an environment where questioning is not viewed as hostility, but as commitment to excellence. The chair plays a critical role in this. By inviting dissenting views and ensuring psychological safety, they can transform disagreement from a threat into a governance strength….”