This was one of the themes that emerged as Penny Thomas, Company Secretary at Shaftesbury PLC, spoke at the latest networking dinner of the Leadership Development Programme for Company Secretaries. Company secretaries putting themselves first is not a message we often hear, or are prepared to promote. The term company secretary derives from the concept of
WD40, the trademark name of the penetrating oil, and water-displacing, spray, may seem an odd subject in a discussion about governance inside UK boardrooms. But it was one of the reflections offered by Amanda Mellor, Group Secretary and Head of Corporate Governance at M&S, speaking to the recent dinner of the Leadership Development Programme. Amanda outlined what she had learnt from
High standards of governance are increasingly being seen, understood and acknowledged as crucial for organisational success. And yet the person responsible for driving this business-critical function – the company secretary, or board secretary – occupies potentially the most neglected role in the boardroom. The secretary is the person who can advise the chairman, the board
