Podcasts
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Trust and credibility remain central to ESG reporting, says governance researcher
Gaizka Ormazabal reveals how regulation and politics are reshaping sustainability disclosures On the latest episode of the Governance Matters podcast, senior reporter Natalie Bannerman speaks toGaizka Ormazabal,associate dean for Research at IESE Business School in Barcelona, about his latest research which examines the mechanisms underpinning trust and credibility in sustainability reporting. With his research cited in final rulings by the SEC and the European Securities and Markets Authority, he explainsthe real-world effects of regulatory changes. For example, he explores how new disclosure requirements in the world’s major stock indices can impact corporate behavior and investor decision-making. Through the conversation,Ormazabal also…
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Governance teams need to ‘be a journalist and ask the questions’ to get the best from boards
How can corporate secretaries help strike the right balance in its board materials? On the latest episode of the Governance Matters podcast, senior reporter Natalie Bannerman speaks to Davina Stanley, founder of Clarity First Program, a professional development initiative designed to help executives, managers and their teams. It enables them to refine complex ideas, improve communication and secure faster, better decisions from senior leaders and boards Directors often tell Stanley that understanding the board takes a fraction of the time once executives have completed her training. One even said they now spend 90 percent less time understanding the board deck…
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As market volatility persists, regulators are sharpening their focus on core enforcement actions
The team discuss the latest goings on amid a changing regulatory focus AT&T has agreed to settle a lawsuit brought by the New York City pension funds over its decision to exclude a shareholder proposal seeking greater disclosure of workforce demographic data, marking a significant moment in the evolving battle over DEI and ESG governance. The dispute centered on the telecommunications firm’s attempt to block a proposal that asked it to provide more detailed information about the racial and gender composition of its workforce. The New York City comptroller, acting on behalf of the city’s pension systems, challenged the exclusion,…
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Trump, proxies and proposals: What’s changing for the 2026 proxy season
The team unpacks the key US governance shifts shaping the 2026 proxy season A petition submitted to the SEC under the Holding Foreign Insiders Accountable Act (HFIAA) is sharpening questions about how US markets handle transparency for insiders at foreign companies whose shares trade domestically. The authors – who describe themselves as ‘scholars of securities law and financial economics’ – argue that Congress directed the SEC to move quickly and that reliance on informal staff commentary risks narrowing the law’s scope. At issue is whether large beneficial holders at foreign issuers, including those owning more than ten percent of a…
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From the red carpet: Shareholder engagement and M&A trends
The team looks back at this year’s Corporate Governance Awards with snippets of the exclusive red-carpet interviews with winner and nominees Nasdaq-listed AI and blockchain company AIxCrypto has named Andrew Grossman as its new head of legal. In the role, Grossman will oversee the company’s legal, compliance and governance functions, which include the management of SEC disclosures, fund and investment compliance,digital assetand Web3 protocol architecture as well as major strategic and commercial agreements. He enters the role with extensive experience in securities regulation,digital assetecosystem architecture, strategic corporate structuring, IP strategy and governance. The appointment follows on from the company’s rebrand…
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2026 proxy season: What’s about to change and why it matters
The team breaks down the changes poised to redefine boardrooms and investor influence next year –Glass Lewis is considering registering as a US investment adviser, a move that would bring increased SEC oversight but could ease criticism from corporate leaders and Republican lawmakers. As reported by Reuters (paywall), Glass Lewis’ chief strategy officer Cheryl Gustitus said the firm is ‘seriously considering’ registration, though no timeline has been set. The potential shift follows broader efforts by CEO Bob Mann to reshape the proxy adviser’s role in corporate governance. In 2027, Glass Lewis plans to end its traditional ‘benchmark’ voting recommendations, offering…
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Best in class: tips on crafting your proxy statement from a previous award-winner
What does it take to beat the competition and scoop up a Corporate Governance Award? On the latest episode of the Governance Matters podcast we’re joined by Paul Sharobeem, associate general counsel and assistant secretary at Century Aluminum Company. He tells Natalie Bannerman about what it meant to him and his team to win the award for Best Proxy Statement (small cap) in 2024, ahead of this year’s Corporate Governance Awards ceremony in November. We also discuss the importance of balancing narrative with regulatory compliance in corporate reporting, the challenges Century Aluminum is facing in the current climate and some…
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Introducing Governance Intelligence’s new summer signing, Natalie Bannerman
This month’s Governance Matters podcast also explores learnings from 2025’s proxy season This month on the Governance Matters podcast, we’re proud to unveil the latest addition to our team: Natalie Bannerman, who is taking on the mantle of senior reporter. A former telecoms and infrastructure journalist, a role she held for nearlyseven year, Natalie also worked in the B2C startup space, covering lifestyle, arts and culture reporting. She speaks to us about her current projects, what she has made of 2025’s busy proxy season and what she is looking forward to covering in the world of governance, risk and compliance.…
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How much can AI help lawyers carry out their jobs?
How much can lawyers lean on AI to help them with their jobs? Well, according to a new academic study, it may be more reliable than previously thought. Anew studyfrom researchers at the University of Minnesota and University of Michigan law schools seems to provide the first empirical evidence that AI tools can consistently improve the quality of legal analysis across various tasks. We speak with Daniel Schwarcz, professor at the University of Minnesota Law School, and Kari Endries, assistant secretary and managing counsel at Chevron, to find out more about the implications for governance professionals. To read the whole…
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How will the SEC’s shift on shareholder proposals affect the proxy season?
The Governance Matters podcast hears from Beth Sasfai of Cooley about the implications of a move that has created many questions Many governance experts involved in the shareholder proposal process are asking questions following the release of new SEC guidance that essentially reverses a Biden-era staff legal bulletin (SLB) on the parameters and reasoning by which companies may seek the go-ahead to exclude resolutions from their proxy statements. Overall, the division of corporation finance’s move will likely lead to fewer ESG-related proposals making their way to a vote at AGMs, posing questions about what happens this year and how proponents…
