Corporate Governance and Chairmanship: A Personal View

Corporate governance has become a major issue in business over the last decade. Adrian Cadbury has played a central role in developing policies, good practice, and our understanding of the complex issues involved. In 1992 he chaired the committee, sponsored by the Bank of England, whose Report on the Financial Aspects of Corporate Governance (commonly known as the 'Cadbury Report') put issues of corporate governance on the map. Ten years on, Cadbury now reflects on issues of corporate governance and chairmanship drawing on his own business and policy-making experience. In the book, he discusses and explains the central issuse of corporate governance; provides practical advice to chairmen and directors on their roles and responsibilities; and surveys the major codes of practice that have been developed in the last decade. He also considers the implications of the current review of company law and speculates on the implications of electronic developments for shareholders' voice and voting, the extent of a company's social responsibility, and the changing relationship between boards, managers, and investors. This book is both an informed commentary and a practical guide. Cadbury's insights will prove essential reading for anybody taking on senior roles in companies and other public organizations, and will provide well-grounded analysis for management academics, students, and advisers.