21st century governance challenge

If we are to make serious progress on the journey to address systemic challenges such as climate change and manage the transition to a sustainable low-carbon economy, the active support of the global banking industry is essential. Called systemically important financial institutions for a reason, global banks now manage an estimated $370 trillion in worldwide assets, which are expected to grow to between $500 trillion and $550 trillion in the next decade. It is not surprising in this context that there is now an expectation for global banks to play a greater role in addressing a wide range of social,…

What are the implications for corporate governance in an environment where firms are being looked to as “social institutions,” sharing with governments the responsibility to ensure elements of social welfare and well-being? This is the question considered at a panel session moderated by the Financial Times’s Billy Nauman, entitled “New Models of Corporate Governance,” part of the FT’s Outstanding Directors Exchange (ODX), a platform that brings together sitting directors of public companies to discuss strategic boardroom issues. Panelists Chris Pinney, President of High Meadows Institute, Peggy Foran, CGO of Prudential Financial and a Director at Orion Group Holdings and Sheila…

The COVID-19 crisis marks an inflection point in the evolution of ESG. On the one hand, it has provided proof once and for all that ESG is here to stay, as investors pour money into ESG funds that are significantly outperforming their peers in the market downturn. On the other, it has heightened public scrutiny of companies and expectations for their social performance. What does this mean for ESG?  It means moving beyond a model of ESG that is still focused primarily on minimizing harm and what Unilever CEO Alan Jope refers to as “seductive incrementalism” – creating change on the…

The High Meadows Institute is pleased to welcome Jon Lukomnik as a senior fellow of the Institute. Jon has had a long and distinguished career in the investment management industry and is one of the pioneers of modern corporate governance. He has written and published over 200 academic and practitioner articles on how to strengthen the contribution and accountability of the financial systems and asset management industry. He is the past executive director of the Investor Responsibility Research Center (IRRC) Institute, whose research has been widely praised for objectively examining fundamental corporate governance and capital market issues. He is a…

This year, there have been many important developments in the discussion on the role of investors in corporate responsibility and leadership in a global society. In the spring PGIM, the global investment management businesses of Prudential Financial, Inc. (PFI) and one of the top 10 largest global investment firms, issued a provocative paper titled The End of Sovereignty, on globalization, nationalism and the implications for institutional investors. The paper explores how the sovereignty of nation-states is now challenged by the forces of globalization and technology beyond their direct control. It notes that 70 of the top 100 global “economies” are…

What the Wells Fargo Crackdown Signals to Corporate America The Federal Reserve’s recently imposed penalties on Wells Fargo diverge from President Trump’s stated position on de-regulation. However, Peter Henning of the New York Times sees the “crackdown” as a one-off penalty and not a sign of broader industry regulation to come.   Unilever Threatens to Reduce Ad Spending on Tech Platforms That Don’t Combat Divisive Content Unilever, long viewed as a leader in corporate social responsibility, recently announced that the company will no longer advertise on platforms that are not “committed to creating a positive impact in society.” The company…