Author Archives: Seamus

How to succeed as a top company secretary (at a relatively young age!) Or, putting out fires, not fanning the flames

By Board effectiveness, Boards, Company secretaries, Corporate governance, Director effectiveness, , , ,

Peter Speirs is one of the youngest Company Secretaries in the UK FTSE100.  His company – Hikma Pharmaceuticals, a (Jordanian) family-owned enterprise – develops, manufactures and markets a broad range of branded and non-branded generic pharmaceutical products. Peter was the guest speaker at the September dinner of the Leadership Development Programme.  What lessons was Peter able to offer about

Read More

Cracking the Corporate Culture Conundrum

By Board effectiveness, Boards, Company secretaries, Corporate governance, Director effectiveness, , ,

The UK Financial Reporting Council (FRC) has just released its much-anticipated report – Corporate Culture and the Role of Boards. Described by the FT as ‘good stuff’, it is a valuable summary of a year-long project capturing the views of market practitioners on the ‘increasing importance which corporate culture plays in delivering long-term business and

Read More

A crisis in the boardroom needs a steady hand behind the scenes

By Board effectiveness, Boards, Company secretaries, Corporate governance, Director effectiveness, Directors, Governance, Governing bodies, ,

Whatever your political viewpoint, the political earthquake which has hit the UK  will potentially destroy value, as well as create opportunities which are not yet immediately obvious. Yet what struck me as I watched the drama unfold – particularly the resignation of David Cameron as Prime Minister (the defining moment) – was that, behind the scenes, someone

Read More