AltoPartners Global Board Practice Trends

This paper presents commentary and insights from leading executive search and leadership consultants from across the AltoPartners alliance, specialising in Board placements and assessments. The AltoPartners alliance spans the Americas, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific.

Over the past decade, one of the most significant trends impacting boards is the focus on board structure and composition, with diversity being a cornerstone of that governance focus. While diversity continues to be a key focus area in 2016, boards are increasingly grappling with issues relating to shareholder activism, accountability and transparency, enhanced regulations, and importantly, the impact of digital disruption and technology on organisations.

In these times of change, it is critical for all boards to adapt and evolve to ensure the organisations they represent remain relevant to today’s customers, consumers, employees and shareholders.

Boards in general, while they accept and recognise the need to change to remain relevant, are often slow in doing so. As external factors increasingly impact the boardroom, boards must regularly assess their composition, operating procedures and strategic intent.

In the fast-changing world, boards should be able to play a catalyst role of excellence while shaping the agenda of the future contexts to allow them to outperform their peers in sustainable value creation.

While these have been identified as the general top global trends impacting boards, AltoPartners take an in-depth look at what boards in countries like Belgium, Canada, France, India, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States of America are actually dealing with, with particular focus on the local regulatory codes of compliance impacting each country.

Their experts in each country provide insights into how they, as leadership advisors, can work with companies to shape effective boards.

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