Corporate Governance and Chairman of the Board: Insightful Perspectives

Author: Adrian Cadbury / Chen Haiwei / Tang Yanhui
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-01-01
Features: The personal views presented in this book are exactly what I have been striving for: comprehensive, unbiased, filled with experience and common sense, and though not necessarily required, adhering to them is highly beneficial. Board chairmen who read this book should remind themselves in a timely manner: we have greatly benefited from his contributions to governance thinking! — Sir Christopher Hogg, Chairman of the Board of Reuters, Chairman of the Board of GlaxoSmithKline The elegant, witty, and profound wisdom of the author guides us through the "ocean of governance," which has accumulated over centuries. Unlike a conductor of a symphony orchestra with his erudite talent, Adrian Cadbury weaves familiar melodies for us, always maintaining rhythm and balance, presenting original thinking to the public. This book is not just a work in the business field; it is destined to become a classic, and every bookshelf deserves to reserve a place for it. — Bob Monks, Chairman of the Board of Washington Investment Company Based on his rich experience as a board chairman and CEO, and his familiarity with corporate codes and laws, the author explains and proves, through his personal insights, how a board can, under the leadership of a board chairman with both authority and time, become the subject of creating trust and reputation through hard work and active support for the CEO in the market economy. Although his wise explanations and suggestions come from the UK, they are equally, if not more, applicable to the US and other parts of the world. — Elara Milstein, New York Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP As a professor at the London School of Economics, Sir Geoffrey Owen provides admirable clear arguments and insightful evaluations on many unresolved issues, such as the role and effectiveness of the board of directors and the relationship between directors and shareholders. I really can't imagine any better introductory textbook or more urgently needed reading for the chairmen of the boards of the top 100 listed companies in the UK Financial Times Index. — Sarah Hogg, Chairman of the Board of 3i Group Corporate governance has become a major issue in the business world over the past decade. The author, Sir Adrian Cadbury, is a world-renowned expert who has played an unparalleled role in policy-making, promoting best practices, and enhancing public understanding of complex issues. In 1992, he served as the chairman of the UK Financial Reporting Council, which was the first corporate governance committee in the world and published the landmark "Cadbury Report," titled "Financial Reporting Council Report." This report has played a significant role in advancing the globalization of corporate governance theory and practice and has presented foundational research findings in the field of corporate governance. Based on over a decade of experience in the business world and policy-making, the author discusses and explains the central issues of corporate governance in this book, providing highly practical advice and guidelines for board chairmen and directors to fulfill their responsibilities and play their roles, and outlines the main practice principles that have gradually developed over the past decade. He also offers his own insights on the impact of the UK's company law reforms and provides forward-thinking perspectives on issues such as shareholders' electronic speaking and voting, the scope of corporate social responsibility, and the dynamic relationships between the board, management, and investors. This book is both a rich personal argument and a practical guide. Sir Adrian Cadbury's profound insights are a valuable treasure for those in senior positions in enterprises and other organizations, and will also provide a solid foundation for analysis for academics, researchers, and management consultants.