Raising the standard of corporate governace in the Middle East
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The Impact of Corporate Governance on Investor Success
For investors, good corporate governance is vital in giving them oversight of a company's internal policies, control mechanisms, and decision making.
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How Corporate Governance Protects Family Businesses and Preserves Family Values
The family-owned business has long formed the bedrock of the Middle Eastern economy, constituting as much as 90% of all companies and contributing around 60% of GDP in the region.
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How Executives Can Leverage Their Knowledge of CG For Greater Success
Executives who invest time in developing their knowledge of corporate governance can add greater value to any organization that they are a part of.
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Corporate Governance: The True Value for Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs in the Middle East looking to establish credibility within the market, confidence among potential investors or creditors, and opportunities for expansion should consider the implementation of corporate governance as a key part of their strategy.
Learn More
The Impact of Corporate Governance on Investor Success
For investors, good corporate governance is vital in giving them oversight of a company's internal policies, control mechanisms, and decision making.
Learn MoreHow Corporate Governance Protects Family Businesses and Preserves Family Values
The family-owned business has long formed the bedrock of the Middle Eastern economy, constituting as much as 90% of all companies and contributing around 60% of GDP in the region.
Learn MoreHow Executives Can Leverage Their Knowledge of CG For Greater Success
Executives who invest time in developing their knowledge of corporate governance can add greater value to any organization that they are a part of.
Learn MoreCorporate Governance: The True Value for Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs in the Middle East looking to establish credibility within the market, confidence among potential investors or creditors, and opportunities for expansion should consider the implementation of corporate governance as a key part of their strategy.
Learn More
Take our quick Corporate Governance Quiz
Find out whether you know the basics of corporate governance.
Director Nomination
We work with organizations to nominate Qualified Directors with relevant experience. We leverage our extensive network of Qualified Directors to recruit individuals who have the specific backgrounds and skillsets needed to enhance and improve the corporate governance function of your business. Learn More
Upcoming Trainings
We offer a range of capacity-building programs to advance understanding of corporate governance and demonstrate its value.
Corporate Governance for Start-Ups
Start Date : Jun 03, 2024 & Oct 07, 2024Designed for founders and owners of high-growth businesses, as well as high-level executives working within those organizations.
Program Fee: US$
2,500
Discounted Price: US$ 2,250
Corporate Secretary Course
Start Date : Jun 09, 2024 & Jul 22, 2024Designed for individuals new to the role of Corporate Secretary, and those looking to refresh and update their knowledge after a period of service.
Program Fee: US$
3,000
Discounted Price: US$ 2,500
ESG in the Boardroom
Start Date : Jun 26, 2024 & Aug 20, 2024Designed for board members, executives, corporate secretaries, in-house counsel, and sustainability/CSR/ESG officers.
Program Fee: US$
3,000
Discounted Price: US$ 2,500
Corporate Governance for Family Businesses
Start Date : Jun 18, 2024Designed for family members, and those individuals working in executive or secretarial roles within a family business.
Program Fee: US$
3,000
Discounted Price: US$ 2,500
Board Ready Program
Start Date : May 20, 2024 & Sep 23, 2024For curious, conscious, courageous & capable professionals seeking an accelerated pathway to a value-aligned board role.
Program Fee: US$ 2,500
Recorded Webinar: Green and Sustainable Finance in the Boardroom
Start Date : Aug 16, 2021Green and sustainable finance has increased substantially in the past few years. This is leading to innovation and change in market practices, regulation, reporting and risk management.
Time: 12:00 AM (UAE Time)
Recorded Webinar: Board CV
Start Date : Dec 07, 2021Board CVs are a unique format focused on individuals value proposition and the value that they can bring into any given boardroom. This is a webinar to assist individuals put together and prepare their Board CVs.
Time: 05:00 PM (UAE Time)
Online Intro to ESG
Start Date : Apr 25, 2024 & May 15, 2024This half day program is designed to provide guidance and information to board members on how best to manage Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) as a key part of their strategy.
Program Fee: US$
250
Discounted Price: US$ 200
Online Intro to Corporate Governance
Start Date : Apr 24, 2024 & May 14, 2024This half day program is designed to provide a big picture overview of the role of boards covering aspects of decision making, recruitment and implementing effective governance.
Program Fee: US$
250
Discounted Price: US$ 200
Strategic Importance of HR in Boardroom
Start Date : Feb 22, 2022The scope of this session is to address: The strategic role of HR in the boardroom The HR’s role in the boardroom in terms of challenging the strategy and the implementation of it against the HR structure The HR directors role as a proactive partner The HR director with solutions
Time: 06:00 PM (UAE Time)
How the role of the CFO is transforming in the board room
Start Date : May 15, 2022Tune in to our next webinar with Antonio Chedrawy to understand the important role of CFOs in the boardroom.
Time: 05:00 PM (UAE Time)
MEIoD Open Day
Start Date : Sep 02, 2023 & Oct 14, 2023A unique chance to find out more about the program.
Time: 11:00 AM (UAE Time)
Board Simulation
Start Date : Jun 04, 2024We have created a Board Simulation program to increase your exposure to opportunities and prepare executives to take their first company board position by immersing them into a virtual boardroom scenario.
Program Fee: US$
1,000
Discounted Price: US$ 750
Diversified Leadership
Start Date : May 20, 2024 & Sep 23, 2024This program is focused on empowering participants to embrace diversity, challenge unconscious biases, and develop strategies for change.
Program Fee: US$
2,000
Discounted Price: US$ 1,750
Corporate Directors Program
Start Date : Apr 22, 2024Designed for current board chairs and members, directors, senior officers, and senior executives, and individuals interested in these positions.***
Program Fee: US$
4,500
Discounted Price: US$ 4,000
Virtual Networking
Start Date : Feb 01, 2024A virtual networking event to take place on February 1, 2024 for existing directors and potential directors to network, it will be a speed networking event allowing you to have 1 to 1 meetings with like minded people to build strategic and value added relationships.
Time: 11:00 AM (UAE Time)
Virtual Networking Feb 15, 2024
Start Date : Feb 15, 2024A virtual networking event to take place on February 15, 2024 for existing directors and potential directors to network, it will be a speed networking event allowing you to have 1 to 1 meetings with like minded people to build strategic and value added relationships.
Time: 11:00 AM (UAE Time)
Governance Conversation - AGM
Start Date : Mar 27, 2024This Virtual Networking Event taking place on March 27, 2024 is designed for current and aspiring directors to engage in value added conversations, fostering strategic relationships. Topic for March is the Annual General Assembly Meeting, opening discussions on associated challenges, stakeholder management, and governance trends. MEIoD Alumni can attend for free.
Time: 11:00 AM (UAE Time)
Governance Conversation - Nomination Committee
Start Date : Apr 22, 2024Join us for a 90-minute pivotal Governance Conversation focusing on the Nomination Committee – a virtual networking event hosted by MEIoD that promises to delve into the intricacies and impact of the nomination committee on board composition and performance.
Time: 11:00 AM (UAE Time)
If you have any questions or would like to reach out to us on the programs, please email: [email protected]
The Importance of Effective Corporate Governance and a Diverse Board of Directors
Governance refers to the set of rules and practices that guide a companys board of directors in ensuring accountability, fairness and transparency in their relationship, with stakeholders. One key aspect of governance is the composition of the board, which involves bringing together individuals with skills, experiences and perspectives. It has been observed that having a board composition, combined with governance practices leads to improved decision making and overall corporate governance quality especially within the GCC region.
The board of directors serves as the driving force behind governance. Their responsibilities encompass areas such as selecting and evaluating the CEO reviewing financial decisions and ensuring the long term sustainability of the company while addressing significant risks and challenges. They are ultimately accountable to stakeholders.
Effective governance practices have consistently shown correlations with performance across sectors. This trend holds true in the Middle East well. In this article we will delve into the intricacies of board composition and its impact on governance within the GCC region - Board Composition Trends in the GCC.
The Role of Board Composition in Corporate Governance
The structure of a companys board plays a role, in governance.
An ideal composition of a board comprises a group of individuals, with varying skills, experiences and perspectives. A study conducted on 143 companies listed in the GCC region revealed that the common size of a board was seven members with an average age of 52.8 years. Interestingly, the majority of female directors are within the age group of 45-54 (62.6%) - Board Composition Trends in the GCC.
However there is still room for improvement in terms of gender diversity within boards. On average there was one woman for every four board members. Nevertheless the increasing presence of female directors indicates a trend towards greater diversity in board composition. This diversity is crucial as it promotes a range of ideas and leads to robust decision making processes. Having a range of individuals, on the board is crucial as it encourages a spectrum of ideas leading to stronger decision making processes.
The Importance of Independent Directors and Fair Compensation Independent directors, who are not involved in day to day operations offer oversight. Contribute to fair decision making processes. In the GCC region there is a correlation between board independence and remuneration. Independent directors receive compensation with a remuneration of USD 113K for board members in this region. - Board Composition Trends in the GCC.
The Role and Significance of Board Committeees
Many corporate boards establish committees to manage areas of responsibility. These committees play a role, in maintaining checks and balances within the organization while enhancing corporate governance standardsDepending on the industry additional committees such, as the Risk Committee, Digital Transformation Committee or Cybersecurity Committee may also be relevant.
The Unique Role of the Board Chairperson
The board chairperson has responsibilities leading the board setting its agenda and ensuring its functioning. They also serve as the point of contact between the board and the CEO fostering communication and fostering positive relationships.
The Impact of Effective Governance on Performance
Implementing governance practices including having an diverse board instills market confidence. This has been proven to result in improved performance and increased value for shareholders. For example a study conducted by the Hawkamah Institute for Corporate Governance discovered that companies in the United Arab Emirates with corporate governance rankings outperformed the market by 4.8% in 2018 . Likewise according to data from the International Finance Corporation Egyptian companies with corporate governance practices recorded profits that were 25% higher than their counterparts.
The Significance of Good Governance
Essentially adopting governance practices driven by a structured and diverse board can significantly enhance a companys performance. In Eastern markets where there is a growing trend, towards more independent board compositions businesses have an opportunity to leverage these practices for their advantage.