The theme for this event provided an in-depth review of board effectiveness, its importance and the links with conduct and culture.

This afternoon session, hosted at the BNY Mellon offices in London, commenced with a 30-min keynote address by Luba Nikulina, the global head of manager research at investment consultants Willis Towers Watson, who along with her colleagues at The Thinking Ahead Institute, has done some key work on the importance of board culture in asset management, and its evaluation.

This was followed by a discussion on board effectiveness, conduct and culture, and why the Senior Managers & Certification Regime matters for asset management, and its implications for fund boards. Delivered by governance experts and FBC members Lucy McClements and Richard Crannis, this two-part interactive session also addressed issues of board level oversight, both in and outside the boardroom.

Our chair for the afternoon was FBC member Ted Sotir, a board chair and 30-year veteran of asset management both in the US and in Europe.