Didier Cossin - High Performance Boards

– Olaug Svarva, Chairwoman, DNB ASA (Norway); Chairwoman, Norfund; Board Member of Investinor and Institute of International Finance (IIF)

“Thank you, Dr Cossin. Board members needed this book for a long time. This work will assist board members to understand their responsibilities better.”

– H.E. Dr. Mohammed bin Hamad bin Saif Al Rumhy, Minister of Oil and Gas, Sultanate of Oman; Chairman, Petroleum Development Oman; Chairman, OQ; Board Member, SGRF

“This book offers valuable insights on what it takes to be an effective board. It facilitates a deeper understanding of the range of challenges and dilemmas that boards are faced with and offers guidance and best practices for how these might be addressed. Didier's elucidation of board structures, processes and culture as key elements of quality board interaction and decision-making is timely and instructive. The checklist at the end of each chapter is a useful reminder of the many dimensions of board effectiveness and provides a quick tool for self-evaluation. This book is essential reference for boards navigating through today's era of uncertainty and greater operational complexity, with the attendant new areas of potential risks and accountabilities.”

– Tan Sri Zarinah Anwar, Chairwoman, Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia; former Chairwoman, Securities Commission of Malaysia

“I have known Didier Cossin for 14 years. He has always been close by during my executive and supervisory careers. The experience he has built, through academic research and real-life sharing with likes of “Joanne Marker,” myself and others, have allowed him to develop and expand a top-of-the-class, practical and applied science of Corporate Governance. The IMD Global Board Center is today ‘the’ governance reference for current and potential board members, and this is Didier's greatest achievement.

Having managed a number of serious crisis during my supervisory career, I can only recommend Didier's book which is a very up-to-date inventory of the skills required to be an impactful board member or chairperson in today's challenging world.”

– Michel Demaré, Deputy Chair, Louis Dreyfus Company; Board Member of Vodafone and Astra Zeneca; Chair of the Supervisory Board, IMD

“The free market system has created the largest aggregate economic growth in human history. However, the serious problems created by its excesses and structural limitations have become painfully apparent. Prof. Cossin's granular understanding and insights on enterprise governance, contemporary risks and challenges and, most importantly, his perspective on stewardship are extremely valuable in achieving the maximisation of long-term stakeholder value – the ‘holy grail’ of modern enterprise. This book is borne out of Prof. Cossin's extensive experience across sectors and geographies – a must-read for committed enterprise directors and trustees.”

– Francis Estrada, Board Member, Philam Life (Philippines); Chair, Institute of Corporate Directors (Philippines)

“When reading this book, I recall the inspiring sessions conducted by Professor Cossin for Effective Board Practices. This topic is extremely attractive and well accepted by the boards who want to bring value to the company. The board is a publicly exposed body of the company, which is influenced from inside and outside. Diversity, board dynamics and culture on the one hand, and growing number of stakeholder interests, reconsideration of business purpose and economic trends on the other. The environment inevitably creates challenges for the board and the governance specialists.”

– Oleg Tsvetkov, Managing Director - Corporate Secretary, Sberbank, Russia

“ High Performance Boards is the most insightful book I've ever read on corporate governance. It is a brilliant, comprehensive and thorough practical guide that shows how boards do function, but it is also much more than that: it describes with vivid accuracy and real company cases and real-life anecdotes how boards should really function. A must-read for anyone who wants to look behind the curtain and learn about the actual dynamics in the boardroom and, in particular, about the relationship between the Chair and CEO – one of the most important aspects of Corporate Governance."

– Pierre Vareille, Chairman of the Board, BIC S.A.; Board Member of Etex SA, Ferroglobe plc and Outokumpu Oyj; Co-Chairman and Founder, The Vareille Foundation

“High Performance Boards is ‘the companion’ – the guide you need. Of course, you will find in this book all the dos and don'ts for your daily board work. Professor Cossin takes you well beyond the checklist. More than anything else you will be inspired by the leadership dimension – the moral compass. What you will see in these pages are your values in action as you serve in the boardroom.”

– Diane de Saint Victor, Chairwoman of Compensation Committee, Altran; Chairwoman of Nomination Committee, Natixis

Didier Cossin

This edition first published 2020

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Cossin, Didier, author.

Title: High performance boards : a practical guide to improving and energizing your governance / Didier Cossin.