Leading a Board

This book represents the first cross-country study of the work of board chairs in Europe. It includes unique data collected through interviews with almost 200 experienced board chairs and their key stakeholders – board members, CEOs and shareholders.
The book focuses on what board leaders actually do, rather than what they should do, and elaborates on a conceptual contingency framework for understanding chairs’ work in Europe. This includes a comprehensive list of chair practices – iterative behaviour strategies for getting things done, comparisons of contexts for chairs’ work and practices among nine countries, and identification of cross-European and country-specific trends that will shape the work of board leaders in the next decade.
The book will benefit incumbent and future chairs, directors, shareholders, CEOs, executives and regulators in developing a systemic understanding of the work of a chair in the European business context and gaining insights into how the leader of the board deals with specific challenges.

Stanislav Shekshnia is a Professor of Entrepreneurship at INSEAD, a Director of the “Leading from the Chair” executive development programme and a Senior Partner at Ward Howell. His research concentrates on leadership, leadership development and effective governance in regions and organizations.
Veronika Zagieva is a Director of Ward Howell Talent Equity Institute, an internal research and development division of the Ward Howell Group. Her research is focused on leadership development, CEO effectiveness, CEO succession and board dynamics.

Leading a Board provides highly relevant insights on dealing with challenges every chairman faces – engaging directors, motivating executives, communicating with different stakeholders. (Dr. Andreas Jacobs, Chairman of the INSEAD Board, Member of the Board of Jacobs Holding AG)

An insightful, well-researched and crafted book, which demystifies the practice and art of good Chairmanship. It compares and contrasts the roles across Europe clearly articulating similarities and differences. It contains a wealth of information drawn from the experience of seasoned Chairman. A must read for both existing and aspiring Chairman. A key insight is the centrality of high EQ as well as IQ skillfully brought to bear to orchestrate the individual and collective contributions essential to effective performance and good governance in a rapidly changing world. (Helen Pitcher OBE, Governance Expert and Chairman Public, Private and Charitable Sectors)

This book is INSEAD doing what it does best. It distils the experience and wisdom of contributors from several diverse cultures and in the process provides invaluable education and stimulation. A “must read” for anyone contemplating taking on the responsibilities of chairing a Board. (Bryan K. Sanderson, CBE, Chairman and Founding Director of Home Renaissance Foundation, Chair of the Low Pay Commission and Chairman of Florence Nightingale Foundation)