When Helena Helmersson abruptly stepped down as CEO of H&M Hennes & Mauritz last month, the few words she offered to explain her decision were picked over and examined like a sales rack at the fast-fashion retailer…...
Over the past three decades, Canada has made some positive strides in advancing equality for women in business, but there’s still significant work to be done if we are to achieve the success seen in other countries — and if we are to see women reach equality in this century....
n countries with higher levels of economic freedom, people are less likely to subscribe to social norms that prioritize men over women in education, the labour force and political leadership. In more economically free jurisdictions, the government permits individuals to make more of their own economic decisions—what to buy, what to sell, where to work, how to run a business, and so on...
Over the last nine years the number of board seats held by women in publicly listed Canadian companies increased from 11% to 27%, and the number of companies with at least one woman on their executive team has increased from 60% to 71%. While...
Businesses are trying to fashion programs that foster inclusion without running afoul of the law and potentially bringing costly consequences, according to lawyers and corporate advisers working on such policies. That means some are abandoning the most legally risky ...
Corporate Canada is moving a step closer to standardized sustainability reporting this week as an industry group charged with adapting international disclosure guidelines to the domestic economy finalizes its first drafts. The Canadian Sustainability Standards Board, which comprises 12 accounting, management, legal and sustainability experts, is expected to sign off on three documents that will guide...
With today’s companies facing a widening array of complex, interrelated risks, risk oversight is increasingly one of the audit committee’s most critical responsibilities. Audit chairs should remain vigilant that risk...
Boards should consider increasing their use of external resources for board education programs. The number of S&P 500 boards relying to some extent on external educational resources has increased significantly in...
There are many players trying to influence boards. Whether they are senior executives trying to get their ideas heard, consultants looking to sell business, or activist shareholders hoping to change the direction of an organization, they are all looking to influence and persuade the board...
Boards may want to consider business strategy experience as an
essential qualification for independent board chairs. Even as boards are increasingly expected to take on a strategic thought-partnership role, reported business strategy experience is declining among independent...