The Role of the Chair
Chairing practice has evolved due to geopolitical and macroeconomic instability, societal tensions, and complex stakeholder dynamics.
IMD’s Role of the Chair program gives you a deep understanding of how impactful board chairs fulfill their roles and responsibilities, and the practices they adopt to uphold the highest governance standards. It also explores the crucial role of committee chairs in leading discussions, anticipating blind spots, and interfacing for decision-making.
A strong Chair-CEO relationship is essential for corporate leadership. The program teaches indicators of a healthy relationship and how to address dysfunctions. Leading board and committee chairs share their experiences, including crisis management, ensuring efficient board operations and adherence to the highest corporate governance standards.
Developed and led by the IMD Global Board Center, this program is grounded in the latest insights and best practices, empowering you to lead the future of governance with confidence and foresight.
Creating Mission & Purpose
- Gain clarity on the roles and responsibilities of board chairs and committee chairs.
- Understand how to foster productive discussion at board and committee level.
- Learn steps for successfully onboarding new board members.
- Lead effective stakeholder engagement, including discussions with shareholders.
- Explore the role of board committees.
- Ensure that the company’s purpose is well defined and articulated, and translated into the strategic direction.
Key topics:
- Promoting engagement, trust, and mutual respect within the board to foster a productive board culture
- Driving the clarity of board conclusions
- Balancing the need for focused discussions with the need to ensure that attention is given to complex or contentious issues
Building organizational resilience
- Deep dive into the CEO-Chair relationship to balance support and challenge effectively.
- Understand the importance of diversity and inclusion, and ensure that they are well leveraged in the boardroom.
- Prepare the board to be resilient to and navigate crises, in line with the organization’s purpose and values.
- Communicate effectively with shareholders, host governments, and other relevant stakeholders, and make sure that the views of these groups are understood by the board.
- Monitor board performance and effectiveness through evaluations.
Key topics:
- Fostering a productive Chair-CEO relationship, to support and serve as a sounding board
- Managing the CEO performance evaluation and succession process
- Monitoring and actively leveraging the board’s composition and diversity, and planning for succession to ensure the board continues to evolve with organizational needs
Chairman, Eni SpA, Italy
Committee chair of Royal BAM Group (NL), Swiss Post (CH) and Cicor (CH), and Board member of Norma Group (DE)
The program was very insightful! The faculty’s knowledge transfer and practical board tools were valuable. I really enjoyed the high-paced and open exchanges with a curated, diverse group of peers – and the hands-on experience from seasoned chairs. Overall, this program provided me with new inspiration in effectively chairing meetings and being a good steward.
Chair of the Board of Directors
Schweizer Heimatwerk
The Role of the Chair equipped me with actionable insights that I immediately implemented by refining our governance framework. The course’s practical focus has truly enhanced my effectiveness as a board chair.
Board Member, Lead Independent Director and Chair of Audit Committee, Eni, Italy
Length: 2 days on campus
IMD Board Director Diploma
