Corporate Governance

Separate governance from management

Governance concerns oversight, accountability and decision rights; management concerns execution. The distinction helps clarify who approves major decisions and who carries them out.

Keep reliable records

Meeting minutes, registers, policies and filings provide a record of decisions and responsibilities. Public records may not contain every internal agreement.

Verify current information

Director appointments and company status can change. For UK companies, the official Companies House service is a useful starting point for current public filings.

Practical review checklist

• Define the business objective and the owner accountable for decisions.
• Document the current position and relevant dependencies.
• Assess security, operational and legal implications before making changes.
• Set measurable outcomes and a date to review results.
• Maintain records of approvals, exceptions and lessons learned.

These are general considerations; the appropriate approach depends on the organization, sector and applicable requirements.

Related resources