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Sallie Mae and VEON lead the way with two trophies each at the Corporate Governance Awards 2025
North America’s leading governance professionals were toasted at an awards gala in New York this week Sallie Mae and VEON were the big winners at this year’s Corporate Governance Awards, with both companies scooping two trophies at a gala event in New York City. Student loans provider Sallie Mae scooped the trophy for the best director training and education program while its senior corporate paralegal, Megan Smagala, walked home with the rising star award after narrowly missing out on it last year. Meanwhile, telecoms company VEON won the title of best governance around a corporate transaction and recognition for the…
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Tesla: How do you get support for a $1 trn pay package? Give shareholders a slice of the pie
Jerry Bowyer talks about why his ESG-skeptic guidelines advise a yes vote at today’s ‘triggering’ Tesla AGM ISS is recommending against Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s $1 tn compensation package. Glass Lewis too. CalPERS and NBIM, manager of the world’s most valuable sovereign wealth fund, have each come out publicly against. But with the Tesla AGM happening today online and at Tesla’s Gigafactory Texas, one small, family-run proxy advisory firm – whose ESG-skeptic voting guidelines are offered by ISS, and which boasted the $57 bn Texas Permanent School Fund as the first state fund to sign up – is backing Musk’s…
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People moves: Ameren Corporation brings in David Feinberg as Cellebrite hires Holly Windham
Plus new general counsel and chief compliance officer at Cellebrite Electricity utility Ameren Corporation has announced the appointment of David Feinberg as its new executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary. He comes the NYSE-listed company from American Electric Power Company, where he has served as executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary since joining the company in 2011. Before that, Feinberg served as vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary at Allegheny Energy, where he also held roles as senior litigation counsel and deputy general counsel. Earlier in his career, he was a partner at the law…
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How governance teams are enabling AI-powered boardrooms
As AI continues to reshape the corporate landscape, governance professionals are presented with a critical opportunity to reposition themselves as strategic enablers within the boardroom. For board directors, company secretaries and governance teams, the integration of AI offers a pathway to move beyond traditional administrative functions and contribute more directly to strategic decision-making. Click hereto download the report >> By adopting AI-driven tools and processes, governance professionals can redirect their focus toward higher-value activities, enhancing board effectiveness in navigating complexity, uncertainty and rapid change. In this Governance Intelligence blueprint – developed in partnership with Diligent – readers will gain exclusive…
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More than just good ethics: new research links board committee diversity to better investment decisions
Television broadcasting company Graham Media Group has announced the appointment of Michael Storm, formerly of The Walt Disney Company, as its new vice president and general counsel. In his new role, Storm will oversee all legal matters for Graham Media, providing strategic counsel on corporate operations, employment and labor relations, regulatory compliance and business development initiatives. The company adds that he brings ‘extensive experience in media law, talent and entertainment contracts, and labor relations from his distinguished career’ at Disney, where he served as senior counsel for the company’s entertainment division. Previously, Storm served as labor relations manager for Disney…
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People moves: Graham Media brings in Disney Entertainment veteran as Hertz appoints new CLO
Plus new governance professionals in place at Fannie Mae and Helen of Troy When we talk about diversity in business, it’s usually in moral or social terms – fairness, inclusion and representation. But our new research suggests diversity also pays off in a very practical way: helping companies make better financial and investment decisions. Company boards often get the attention in discussions about corporate leadership. Yet much of the real decision-making happens within smaller, specialised board committees – groups of directors responsible for areas such as audit, risk, remuneration and sustainability. These committees are where many of the big investment…
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The hidden backbone: Why entity management is key to strong corporate governance
Effective entity management has become a critical strategic function, but what happens when it’s neglected? Entity management remains the often overlooked yet crucial foundation supporting effective governance. Operating behind the scenes, entity management functions as the quiet engine that ensures transparency, mitigates risk and enables strategic agility across multinational enterprises. Despite its critical importance, it frequently remains delegated solely to legal or compliance teams, disconnected from the boardroom’s strategic oversight. This disconnect can expose companies to significant risks, from compliance failures and regulatory penalties to delays in M&A and erosion of corporate reputation. The starting point for recognizing entity management’s…
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The week in GRC: Elon Musk calls ISS and Glass Lewis ‘corporate terrorists’ over $1 trn pay package dispute as ICGN criticizes SEC policy changes
This week’s governance, compliance and risk-management stories from around the web – Elon Musk has labeled shareholder advisory firms ISS and Glass Lewis as ‘corporate terrorists.’ The remarks came after both firms advised Tesla investors to vote against his proposed $55 bn pay package ($1 trn at its peak), a revived version of the 2018 deal that had been struck down earlier by a Delaware court for being ‘deeply flawed.’ As reported by Reuters (paywall), ISS and Glass Lewis argued that Musk’s compensation was excessive, diluted shareholder value and failed to align with long-term investor interests. Musk, however, sees their…
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California’s new climate rules to redraw the ESG reporting playbook
As companies brace for California’s climate reporting rules to come into force in 2026, we explore what this will mean for GRC professionals In 2026 the state of California is set to enforce two landmark climate disclosure laws: Senate Bill 253 (the Climate Corporate Data Accountability Act) and Senate Bill 261 (the Climate-Related Financial Risk Act). As such, governance, risk and compliance (GRC) professionals will play a key role in integrating the regulatory demands into enterprise risk-management and reporting frameworks. The rule set SB 253 requires companies doing business in California with annual revenues exceeding $1bn to publicly report their greenhouse-gas (GHG)…
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People moves: Sarah Powell joins Planet Fitness as new general counsel
Plus, Starbucks, AXA and Stanley Black & Decker make new additions to their legal teams NYSE-listed Planet Fitness has appointed Sarah Powell as general counsel, effective November 17. A 25-year legal veteran, she served as executive vice president, general counsel and secretary at GoTo Foods (formerly Focus Brands). Prior to GoTo Foods, Powell served as senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary at Advance Auto Parts. Earlier in her career, she served on the legal team at Delhaize America. ‘I am excited to welcome Sarah and her deep franchising experience to Planet Fitness, where she will play a critical…