Work of a Chair in Europe: Context, Content and Evolution

Chapter 1 builds on the existing literature and findings of the research project. It offers a conceptual model of the environment in which board chairs operate, combining three macro factors—business context, laws and soft laws, and societal norms—and three micro factors—company, board and chair. The unique combination of these factors defines what board chairs do (roles) and how they go about it (practices). There are strong similarities in the way chairs from various countries define the job itself and the way they go about it. Board leaders play three specific roles: engaging, enabling and encouraging, which we call “the 3Es of effective board leadership”. While these roles intertwine and reinforce each other, we have identified and classified specific practices that board chairs use to perform them individually. We also present typologies of chair-CEO and chair-shareholder relationships and supporting behaviours.