Board Evaluation and other services
All Savendie consultants have considerable board experience from a very practical perspective and are aware of the challenges that face Chairmen, Non-Executive and Executive Directors and the Company Secretary. We believe that our knowledge of the demanding and different roles that have to be performed allows us to provide an insightful approach to board evaluation work.
Our service is shaped to meet the individual requirements of each company – despite common themes companies do face different challenges and our evaluation will be tailored to your particular requirements. We encourage a board to consider its effectiveness by concentrating on:
- Board behaviour in and around meetings and the level of openness and debate facilitated;
- Board’s involvement in testing and developing strategy;
- Board’s contribution to ensuring robust and effective risk management;
- Board’s communication with the management team, employees and shareholders;
- mix of knowledge, experience and skills on the Board and its Committees and level of training provided;
- content and quality of management information provided.
We discuss with the Chairman how best to review these areas and propose various techniques for consideration. Discussing these issues with us allows a board access to an independent review by consultants who have practical experience of the board environment. Our approach is to gently probe to ensure that the board as a whole understands how it can be effective and how it can best deliver that objective.
Education Programme and Mentoring for Directors
Working in partnership with IDDAS, Savendie can further support a Board through the implementation of any recommendations identified during the evaluation. IDDAS provides a facilitated process which directly addresses the collective and individual performance of the Board as a unit through its Board Leadership and Behavioural Effectiveness programme. IDDAS also provides a Board Development and Education Plan and a Corporate Governance Development Programme and all of these would be available for a Chairman to consider following the board evaluation.
Design or Review of Code of Ethics
Companies are expected to behave in an ethical manner and a code of corporate ethics is regarded as an important element in a system of effective internal control. Many companies and organisations now publish their Code of Ethics or Behaviour on their web sites. It can be time consuming to develop and update such a code within a secretarial or legal team where resource can be stretched. This service can be provided by Savendie and more importantly Savendie can provide an on-line training package that can increase and monitor awareness of the code throughout the company.
Structure and organisation of secretarial and in-house legal teams
Working with Company Secretaries and General Counsel, Savendie can provide independent advice regarding the best way to structure and operate teams.
Board and In-House Legal Services
Savendie can provide support working within the company at times when additional resource is required to deliver a complex commercial project, merger or acquisition. Savendie can also provide regular part time assistance to companies who may choose not to have a full time company secretary – for example, Sheelagh can assist in the preparation for, attendance at and minutes for board meetings.
Savendie would welcome the opportunity to discuss these services with you.