CGRI research spans these topics: general principles, board of directors, leadership and succession planning, compensation, audit and risk, shareholders, and proxy advisory.
Loosey-Goosey Governance
A reliable system of corporate governance is considered to be an important requirement for the long-term success of a company. Unfortunately,…
Stakeholders and Shareholders: Are Executives Really “Penny Wise and Pound Foolish” About ESG?
Currently, there is much debate about the role that non-investor stakeholder interests play in the governance of public companies. Critics argue…
The Business Case for ESG
Recently, there has been debate among corporate managers, board of directors, and institutional investors around how best to incorporate ESG (…
Where Does Human Resources Sit at the Strategy Table?
Two decades ago, McKinsey advanced the idea that large U.S. companies are engaged in a “war for talent” and that to remain competitive they need…
The Wells Fargo Cross-Selling Scandal
In this Closer Look, we examine the tensions between corporate culture, financial incentives, and employee conduct as illustrated by the Wells…
Scaling Up: The Implementation of Corporate Governance in Pre-IPO Companies
Companies are required to have a reliable system of corporate governance in place at the time of IPO in order to protect the interests of public…
The Double-Edged Sword of CEO Activism
CEO activism — the practice of CEOs taking public positions on environmental, social, and political issues not directly related to their business…
Cashing It In: Private-Company Exchanges and Employee Stock Sales Prior to IPO
Companies in the United States are staying private longer, and this trend has important implications for companies and their employees. Employees…
Netflix Approach to Governance: Genuine Transparency with the Board
The hallmark of good corporate governance is an independent board of directors to oversee management. However, it is not clear that independent…
The Big Thumb on the Scale: An Overview of The Proxy Advisory Industry
Proxy advisory firms have significant influence over the voting decisions of institutional investors and the governance choices of publicly traded…
Governance Gone Wild: Epic Misbehavior at Uber Technologies
In this Closer Look, we examine the roles that leadership and culture play in contributing to chronic misbehavior and the manner in which it takes…
Critical Update Needed: Cybersecurity Expertise in the Boardroom
The board of directors is expected to ensure that management has identified and developed processes to mitigate risks facing the organization,…
Building a Better Board Book
Board members rely on information provided by management to inform their decisions. Unfortunately, some research calls into question the adequacy…
CEO Talent: A Dime a Dozen, or Worth its Weight in Gold?
Governance experts have vigorously debated the appropriateness of CEO compensation. And yet, very little effort has been made to understand the…
Retired or Fired: How Can Investors Tell if a CEO Was Pressured to Leave?
CEO succession at many companies occurs in a black box. Shareholders are not privy to boardroom discussions prior to the announcement of a CEO…
An Activist View of CEO Compensation
Understanding CEO compensation plans is a continuing challenge for directors and investors. The disclosure of these plans is dictated by SEC rules…
Board Evaluations and Boardroom Dynamics
The boards of all publicly traded companies are required to conduct a self-evaluation at least annually to determine whether they are functioning…
From Boardroom to C-Suite: Why Would a Company Pick a Current Director as CEO?
Many observers consider the most important responsibility of the board of directors its responsibility to hire and fire the CEO. To this end, an…
Succession “Losers”: What Happens to Executives Passed Over for the CEO Job?
Shareholders pay considerable attention to the choice of executive selected as the new CEO whenever a change in leadership takes place. However,…
The “Buy Side” View on CEO Pay
Executive compensation is a highly controversial topic. Journalists, governance commentators, and members of the American public believe that the…
Gadflies at the Gate: Why Do Individual Investors Sponsor Shareholder Resolutions?
Individual investors are active participants in the shareholder resolution process, filing approximately one quarter of the total number of…
Chairman and CEO: The Controversy Over Board Leadership Structure
One of the most controversial issues in corporate governance is whether the CEO of a corporation should also serve as chairman of the board. In…
Scoundrels in the C-Suite: How Should the Board Respond When a CEO’s Bad Behavior Makes the News?
The board of directors has a responsibility to investigate credible allegations that management has engaged in activity that is not in the…
Governance Aches and Pains: Is Bad Governance Chronic?
Institutional investors pay considerable attention to the quality of a company’s governance. Unfortunately, it is difficult for outside observers…