Board and CEO

Odgers Berndtson’s Board Practice is responsible for some of the most important recent Chairman and Non-Executive Director (NED) appointments as well as for executive board roles. Recent appointments include Chairmen of FTSE companies, major national corporations, the world’s largest charities and a range of public sector and private businesses.

Typically, the Board Practice team will be involved in appointments to some 30 boards at any one time.

Our role is to advise on how a board could be structured, who might best fill the role and how to attract them. Then we implement our advice and combine flair, rigour and teamwork in our search for people who will add real value.

Flair comes from very bright, experienced and motivated professionals who have a passion for finding interesting people who are right for the role. Rigour underpins the flair.

Good process ensures that the ground is thoroughly covered; it ensures that candidates are impeccably treated; and it helps to ensure that the client and other stakeholders are consulted and involved.

Teamwork means that every search is contributed to by many of our people in addition to the partners and researchers who take the lead roles. While we draw from an international pool of talent, we have particular expertise in serving UK businesses. Our board practice includes a mix of long-serving professional recruiters and people who bring expertise from other walks of life, including business, politics and the media. We deploy teams with a mix of talents, with contacts at the highest levels of the corporate and public sectors.

We provide development seminars for non-executives in the shape of our popular NED programme.We are also a leading provider of executives for interim positions on UK boards.

Non-Executive Director Development Programme

A workshop for aspiring non-executive directors and chairs

The biggest change on UK corporate boards in the past generation has been the rise of the Non-Executive Director (NED). The role has become increasingly demanding as a result of shareholder, media and regulatory pressure.

NEDs are now expected to make a high quality contribution to every critical issue facing the company. They must support and constructively challenge the executive team, bring a wide perspective, offer experience and contacts, have a sensitive nose for risks and opportunities and critically appraise strategy.

The quality of the board is a key competitive differentiator for every company. It is therefore essential that new NEDs have an in-depth understanding of the subtle mix of skills required in the role and the complex range of business and cultural issues that boards face. This is what our NED Development Programme provides.

Held at Odgers Berndtson’s headquarters in central London, the one-and-a-half day seminar advises potential and new NEDs on the challenges of the role. The Programme offers an intelligent and practical guide to how good governance can be a competitive advantage rather than a burden.
Sessions are run by current chairmen of boards and key committees, with senior Odgers Berndtson search Partners contributing. Content includes: 

• Overview of role and responsibilities
• Legal and financial responsibilities
• Role and remit of the remuneration and audit committees 
• The different challenges facing NEDs on listed companies, private equity-backed enterprises, SMEs and not-for-profit organisations 
• Expectations of board members, as seen by experienced Chairmen and NEDs 
• Tips for getting an NED role 
• How a NED role can benefit an executive’s career and employer

For more information, please contact nedprog@odgersberndtson.co.uk