ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the role of the company Board – what is the Board for? Section 172 of the UK Companies Act 2006 provides the answer. The company Board, led by the chair, is there for the benefit of not just shareholders/members, but also employees, suppliers, creditors, customers, the local community, the environment. The Board should seek the truth across seven dimensions – strategy, holding the exec to account, risk, reputation, people, diversity and values. The Board should focus on evidence-based decision-making and on being clear what the problem is (diagnosis) before moving to answers (solutions).
