Board Search as a strategic and business-critical discipline

Recognizing Board Search as a key discipline 

For decades, both private and public companies have naturally engaged in the recruitment and hiring of top executives, managers and management teams. It has been a recognized practice to increasingly use the expertise and tools of professional recruitment companies for these purposes.

The approach to boardroom appointments, however, has often been different. Traditionally, it has been driven by a focus on networks and networking. In many cases, there's also been a perception that contributions in the boardroom were proportional to one's management experience and experience from other boards.

There's nothing inherently wrong with this approach. However, we see a potential risk in this conservatism, a risk that the boardroom becomes overly rigid or resistant to change. Additionally, considering the significant changes in the world around us over the past five years, these potential risks are amplified. What is the most important task of the modern board? We would describe it as follows:

Ensuring effective strategic leadership and oversight of the company involves defining clear, overarching strategic goals. This includes evaluating and appointing the right management, who, along with the board, can optimally handle risks. The purpose is to ensure sustainability and maintain a strong corporate governance structure. This structure should be based on competencies that reflect social development, market conditions and relevant trends in technology usage. This should continually support the company's adaptability, success and value creation.

Key elements in Board Search

Our stance is that appointments to the boardroom should be aligned with Executive Search, with a few variations, to address a potential business-critical discrepancy between top management and the board. Thus, we advocate for a greater focus on the discipline of Board Search and the craftsmanship surrounding the process, to support the success and development of our companies in a world characterized by uncertainty and the need for agility.

Characteristics of a successful Board Search process:

Overall, a successful board search process is a careful and strategically planned effort that considers the company's needs, diversity, management requirements and long-term goals.

The benefits of an effective Board Search

Like an executive search process, a Board Search should also be regarded as a distinct discipline and an investment in the long-term success and development of the company. The returns are evident:

Strategic innovation and business success: The board plays a central role in shaping the company's strategy and decision-making processes. By considering Board Search as a new discipline, the need for specialized expertise in identifying candidates who can add strategic value and lead the company in the right direction is acknowledged.

Effective governance: Board governance has become increasingly complex with heightened demands for transparency, compliance, and risk management. A dedicated discipline like Board Search is necessary to navigate through these complexities and ensure that the board can effectively fulfill its oversight and strategic responsibilities with the right competencies.

Ensure proper diversity: Traditionally, boards have been characterized by homogeneity, but this is rapidly changing. There is a growing recognition of the importance of diversity in boards. A specialized discipline like Board Search focuses on identifying and attracting candidates with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives to create more effective and innovative boards.

Reflect technological advancements and ensure innovation height: Technological advancements have dramatically changed the business landscape. A specialized discipline like Board Search can identify candidates with the right technological insight and innovation ability to help the company remain competitive and relevant, even in the long run.

Ensure international outlook: Many companies are increasingly operating across borders and board members must therefore have a global perspective. A discipline like Board Search is crucial for identifying candidates with international experience and cultural understanding, thereby supporting the company's market relevance across borders and its ability to scale.

Agile leadership and adaptability: Rapid changes in technology, market conditions and society also require boards, like management teams, to be agile and able to adapt quickly. The board search process can identify candidates who have demonstrated the ability to navigate uncertain situations and lead companies through changes successfully.

Winning the battle to attract the modern board profile: The demand for skilled board members is increasing and the competition to attract the most qualified candidates has intensified. A specialized discipline like Board Search can help navigate this competition and identify the best candidates.

Summary

Board Search should not only be seen as a new independent discipline, acknowledging that the composition of the board is crucial for the company's long-term success. It is simply a strategic business lever. The craft of Board Search requires a targeted and specialized approach to identify and attract the right skills and profiles. This should support our companies in 2024 to succeed and become successful in today's complex business world, which demands that increased uncertainty and rapid changes be met with agility and decision-making competence.