Better Boards Ltd.

Today’s podcast guest, Christof Kutscher, has built a remarkable career serving on boards in 20 countries across five continents.But as he puts it, ‘I didn’t start out on five continents!‘ Christof’s career is a fascinating one to track. Currently Chair of the Board of Directors at Bergos Private Bank, he also sits on the boards of Carmignac Gestion, Indeez, and Gnothis Holding SA. His previous roles include CEO and Chair of Climate Asset Management, as well as leadership positions at UBS Global Asset Management and AXA Investment Managers. In this episode, Christof shares how his international board experience has shaped his approach to governance, cultural adaptability, and decision making. He reveals the lessons learned from serving on boards in different countries and continents, what he brings to those boards in terms of experience and character, and how he carefully chooses the right board roles. He also talks about how to say ‘no’ if the role and fit aren’t quite right. Here are three key pieces of advice from my conversation with Christof: ✅Avoid boards where there are big egos at play. A board cannot function if members’ egos overshadow the company’s needs. It’s essential that even the smartest, most experienced individuals focus on contributing to the business, not to their own agenda. ✅Make sure the board is doing what it’s supposed to do. From strategy and senior management compensation to risk management and regulatory compliance, boards have a critical role to play. You can have the best director insurance on the planet, but you’ll run into trouble if you don't get the foundations right. ✅Move quickly. After six months on a board, assess if you can truly add value. If not, move on quickly. Time is valuable, and so is finding the right fit for your next role. If you're smart and strategic, you'll move on to another board role and will have added a valuable new layer of experience to your cv. Tune into an episode where I talk with someone who’s had (and is having!) a truly remarkable board career. 🎧

🌍My podcast guest this week has had an extraordinary career. Most directors serve on boards in one or two companies. Christof Kutscher has served on twenty boards on five continents. In our conversation, Christof shares the strategies he’s gained from navigating diverse boardrooms around the world with insight and humour. From understanding cultural differences to mastering governance, he reveals the secrets behind his success, how he approaches each board role, and - just as importantly - how he knows when to say no to a potential new opportunity. With key positions like Chair of the Board of Directors at @Bergos Private Bank, CEO and Chair at Climate Asset Management, and roles at UBS, and AXA Investment Managers, Christof’s experience in finance, sustainability, and governance is exceptional. His vast experience internationally makes him a highly respected figure - and a perfect podcast guest.  So tune in on Thursday - it’s a good opportunity for anyone looking to understand more about operating in a truly global environment, with someone who’s learned much along the way.🎧

🎧In today’s podcast I’m joined by Irene Arias Hofman, CFA, CEO of IDB Lab, who shares how best to overcome the unique challenges faced by tech startup boards. From governance to evolving board composition and the key KPIs to track, Irene shares what’s critical for success as startups scale. Some key takeaways:  ✅ Governance is crucial; Investors -  pay close attention to the governance of startups and venture capital funds.  ✅ Evolving skill sets; As startups grow, their boards must expand beyond technical expertise, adding strategic foresight and leadership.  ✅ Diversity drives success; Diverse boards perform better, yet only 6.2% of unicorn board seats are held by women. So be mindful of bringing in board members who believe in your vision for the company and can contribute diverse views. With her 20+ years of experience, including managing a $16B portfolio at the IFC, Irene’s advice could make the difference between a successful startup and one that never quite gets off the ground. A must-listen for anyone in the tech startup ecosystem and those passionate about innovation and venture capital. 🎧 Listen now! https://lnkd.in/dwmWvUE

🎙In Thursday’s podcast, guest Irene Arias Hofman, CFA, CEO of IDB Lab shares her experience of navigating the unique challenges faced by tech startup boards. With decades of experience, including 20 years at the IFC (World Bank Group) managing a $16B portfolio, Irene knows what it takes to foster innovation, drive growth, and guide startups from early stages to corporate success. IDB Lab supports early-stage entrepreneurship by leveraging financing, knowledge, and connections to accelerate the development of new technologies and innovative markets. In the podcast, Irene explains how startup boards can evolve and align their governance, strategy, and skills to achieve long-term success. This episode is a must-listen for anyone in the tech startup ecosystem - or anyone fascinated by the fast-paced world of growth, innovation and venture capital. 🎧 Don’t miss it!

🎙️ In today’s episode, I'm joined by Dr. Cordula Heldt to dive into the evolving corporate governance landscape in Germany and the broader lessons we can draw from it. As the Head of Corporate Governance and Company Law at Deutsches Aktieninstitut, Cordula sits at the forefront of governance discussions. And with a doctorate in Law from Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University in Frankfurt and numerous published articles in legal literature, Cordula brings a huge amount of experience to our conversation. Our conversation was wide-ranging, from the lessons we can learn from high profile corporate failures to the importance, for boards, of continually reviewing their effectiveness. We also talked about; ➡️ the importance of staying informed about the ongoing governance debates in Germany and the UK, to help navigate and meet diverse reporting expectations across regions. ➡️ how to recognise the potential expectation gaps in corporate reporting - particularly in Germany and the UK - to aid in aligning reporting practices with the expectations of stakeholders and regulators. ➡️ why the board needs to be seen as a cohesive team that works together to ask the right questions and prevent governance failures. Emphasising collaboration with a proactive board culture is essential for strengthening overall effectiveness. Don’t miss this episode of the Better Boards Podcast Series. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or Google! 🎧 Listen here >> https://lnkd.in/dwmWvUE

🌟New look, the same great content and guests! We’ve updated our podcast cover art in response to your valuable feedback. We love hearing from our listeners! Your engagement and suggestions help shape every episode of our podcast. And recently, a group of listeners shared their thoughts on our cover art and encouraged us to make some changes (see below). We listened...and we’ve refreshed. So if you spot a new logo in your playlist, don’t worry, it’s still us 😉.

🎙️Learn more about the latest trends in German corporate governance on this week’s podcast, launching on Thursday. We’ve seen some high-profile corporate failures in Germany recently, most notably the Wirecard scandal. This has led to some substantial regulatory changes aimed at strengthening corporate governance. I’m delighted to welcome Dr. Cordula Heldt as my podcast guest this week to explore these changes. Cordula is Head of Corporate Governance and Company Law at Deutsches Aktieninstitut, which represents the interests of publicly traded companies, banks, stock exchanges, and investors in Germany. Of course, while corporate failures aren’t unique to Germany, reflecting on them provides essential lessons for Directors worldwide. In the podcast we’ll be looking at what Directors can learn from these regulatory changes, and how new governance standards are reshaping the corporate landscape in Germany - and more broadly. Dr. Heldt brings with her a wealth of experience from the heart of the governance world;  she engages daily with key players, from regulators and state officials to top managers, board members, the media, and the general public. Her insights are essential listening for anyone interested in the evolving landscape of corporate governance. ⏰ So set your alarm and tune in to the Better Boards Podcast on Thursday. You can listen on Apple, Spotify, or Google.  🎧 For more information about the work that we do, get in touch at info@better-boards.com.

Looking to make the most of those quieter summer weeks? ☀️ Today’s podcast is the perfect listen… 🎧 Today I’m talking to Chloe Barry, Group Company Secretary at Kingfisher plc, about internal board evaluations. Chloe has worked on internal and external evaluations for a number of FTSE companies in her career, and today shares her personal insights on the practical actions throughout the evaluation process that have had the most impact. Internal evaluations are a core part of the Company Secretary role; worldwide corporate governance codes state that an internal board evaluation should be conducted in year one and year two after a fully facilitated external evaluation. A thoughtful and well-planned evaluation process leads to more engaged directors and more valuable insights. Which is why it’s been good to talk to Chloe both about how she prepares for internal evaluations as well as how she identifies the practical actions that will deliver the most improvement to the board. Chloe began her career at PwC in London and Jersey and has since held numerous company secretarial roles at leading FTSE 100 companies, including Centrica, Intercontinental Hotels Group, and BG Group, up to its acquisition by Royal Dutch Shell. Chloe joined Kingfisher plc (home to B&Q and Screwfix) in 2019 and was appointed Group Company Secretary in 2021. Chloe - thank you for a sharing your experience with us today. Click here to listen now >> https://lnkd.in/dwmWvUE

🎙️Tune in this Thursday to the Better Boards podcast for a discussion on internal board evaluations with Chloe Barry, Group Company Secretary at Kingfisher plc, a FTSE 100 company. This episode is your perfect beach listen, with practical advice for company secretaries worldwide. 🏖️ Internal board evaluations are high up on every company secretary's agenda. Global corporate governance codes state that an internal board evaluation should be conducted in year one and year two after a fully facilitated external evaluation. But how can CoSecs ensure these processes are smooth and impactful? Chloe Barry has a huge amount of experience working with boards on both internal and external evaluations. She joined Kingfisher plc (home to B&Q and Screwfix) in 2019 and became Group Company Secretary in 2021. She started her company secretarial career at PwC in both London and Jersey and since then has held a number of company secretarial roles at leading FTSE 100 companies. These include Centrica, Intercontinental Hotels Group and BG Group, up to its acquisition by Royal Dutch Shell. Join us on Thursday as Chloe shares the best way to prepare for an internal board evaluation, how to get the Chair and Directors on board, and the evaluation data and insights that, in her experience, have had the most impact.

🌟As a board reviewer, I’ve met many directors with good intentions; directors who are keen to drive forward the ‘big picture’ boardroom discussions. I’ve also met directors who’ve become disillusioned, bogged down in the detail, too focused on the everyday to be able to implement the bold ideas. What does a boardroom look like where they do things differently? Where people can develop ideas, innovate and thrive? My podcast guest this week is Sir John Tusa. Sir John has a huge amount of boardroom experience, having been the Managing Director of some of the most iconic media and cultural centres in the United Kingdom; the BBC World Service and the City of London’s Barbican Arts Centre to name just two. Recently, he’s been studying companies who’ve had the big ideas, and made them happen, often against the odds. He’s examined the boardroom behaviour where groundbreaking ideas emerge, are discussed, are supported, and then implemented. In the podcast we explore the traits of these innovators, looking at why they succeed (or fail), and the crucial role that boards play in these case studies of ‘extreme innovation.’ (Spoiler alert: it’s not just about setting up an ‘innovation hub.’) Sir John’s latest book is ‘Bright Sparks: How Creativity and Innovation can Inspire Business Success’, which is shortlisted for the Business Book of the Year Award. Sir John Tusa is a great friend of the Better Boards podcast, and it’s an enormous pleasure to welcome him back. Click here to listen to the podcast - and as always, I’d love to know what you think. https://lnkd.in/dwmWvUE