Ned Capital Podcast

Welcome to the NED Capital Podcast. Getting shortlisted for a Non-Executive Director position is an achievement in itself. But the interview for a NED role is very different from a conventional executive job interview. You are not simply being asked whether you can do a particular job. The board is trying to understand how you think, how you exercise judgement, how you challenge management and what you would actually contribute around the board table. That means preparation needs to go well b...

Welcome to the NED Capital Podcast. As businesses grow, there comes a point when the founders and executive team need additional experience around the leadership table. But what sort of experience do you actually need? Should you appoint a Non-Executive Director who can provide independent challenge and strategic oversight? Or would the business be better served by bringing in a fractional executive who can take on a defined operational role? These two options can sometimes appear similar. Th...

A board meeting can look quite straightforward from the outside. Directors sit around a table, management presents its reports, questions are asked, decisions are made and the meeting moves on to the next item. But a good board meeting is much more than a formal gathering to approve papers. It is where directors exercise their collective responsibility for the direction and control of the company. Strategy is tested, financial performance is examined, risks are considered and major decisions are

Welcome to the NED Capital Podcast. Being appointed as a Non-Executive Director can look very different depending on the organisation. A NED joining the board of a privately owned manufacturing business will face a different governance environment from someone joining the board of a bank, insurer, asset manager or other FCA-regulated financial services firm. One of the most important differences is the regulatory framework surrounding the appointment. So, do Non-Executive Directors need FCA a...

Welcome to the NED Capital Podcast. When boards think about succession planning, the focus is often on the executive team. Who will eventually replace the CEO? What happens if the CFO leaves? Do we have the leadership capability needed for the next stage of the business? But there is another succession question that can be just as important: who will lead the board when the current Chair steps down? A Non-Executive Chair is not simply another Non-Executive Director with a more senior title. T...

Welcome to the NED Capital Podcast. Today we are looking at an important aspect of board governance that is often left until too late: succession planning for non-executive directors. Boards spend considerable time thinking about executive succession. They consider who might eventually replace the CEO, CFO or other senior executives and what skills the organisation will need in the future. But the same discipline needs to be applied to the board itself. A NED may have a fixed term, decide to