Shining a Light on a Naughtie World

Synopsis

Ask Bob Garratt, “As our world is in a mess, what single change would most strongly impact it positively?”

Or ask him, “Where would attempts to make our world a better place have maximum impact for least investment of money, energy and time?

His answer is, “By reforming corporate governance around the world”.

That is why he has written this book for the increasingly concerned members of the general public, for political leaders, as well as for company directors.

In the book, he:

• Questions the current over-emphasis on codes and compliance
• Offers an entire reframing of the field of Corporate Governance
• Stresses the entrepreneurial foundations necessary for future corporate governance
• Reveals that the majority of current ‘directors’ do not personally commit to even the legal basics of company law on corporate governance
• Demands the regular assessment of director competence – specifically ensuring the delivery of their legal duties and the fulfilment of their company’s Purpose
• Integrates the use of all the Three Capitals – Financial, Environmental and Social
• Foresees and suggests ways of achieving a complete overhaul of corporate reporting and audit systems
• Argues that globalised and globalising businesses need to have a globally accepted system of Corporate Governance – not the current situation where national systems conflict with each other
• Spotlights that the current state of affairs cannot continue without damaging all human institutions – private, public, and not-for-profit

Bob Garratt is the world’s pre-eminent expert on company boards and corporate governance.

His personal boardroom experience as a Chairman, both in London and in Hong Kong, has made him a trusted advisor and mentor to Chairmen and Chief Executives internationally.

Author of five previous best-selling books on Boards, Company Directorship and Corporate Governance, he is Professor Extraordinaire at the University of Stellenbosch Business School, and Chairman of its Centre for Corporate Governance in Africa.

Involved for decades in various capacities with major Business Schools and Board Development efforts for major companies, he helped create the Chartered Director national award programme for the UK – the very first such programme in the world.

His consulting experience extends to five of the world’s six continents. Among his clients have been large corporates, family businesses, family offices, state-owned enterprises, professional practices, not-for-profits, regulators, central and local governments, the International Monetary Fund, the Public Investment Corporation (South Africa), and the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority.

A member of the City Values Forum restoring integrity to the City of London firms, he is a Freeman of The City of London, and Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Management Consultants.