NACD Director Professionalism Course Addresses Key Challenges Facing Boardroom

WASHINGTON, June 14 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of Corporate Directors, the only membership organization delivering the information and insights that corporate board members need to advance exemplary board leadership, convened the organization's Director Professionalism course in Philadelphia, PA this week to discuss a range of issues impacting the Boardroom.  Among the topics presented by a distinguished roster of active public company directors and discussed by the 65 board members during the two-day session were legislative/regulatory initiatives on corporate governance, lessons learned from recent corporate crises and leading practices in risk governance, board committee work and board composition.

Speaking to attendees, Mike Cook, member of the Comcast board of directors and former Chairman and CEO of Deloitte, discussed the important topic of board composition in an age of increasing legislative/regulatory scrutiny and shareholder activism.  Mr. Cook cautioned the audience of the dangers of putting "form before substance" when considering board composition.

He indicated that a new focus on board composition in response to this year's proxy disclosure requirements may create boards that look good on paper but don't have the necessary skill sets, experience and leadership capabilities to truly advance shareowner interests.  Mr. Cook, a veteran with 12 years of service on public company boards, also pointed to the importance of the "tone at the top" and aligning strategy and risk as critical leading practices in the current environment.

NACD Director Professionalism is a comprehensive two day course that is nationally recognized for providing the educational grounding required for effective directorship. Completion is required to obtain NACD's Certificate of Director Education.  Director Professionalism is essential for directors new to public company boards and for all directors committed to boardroom excellence.  

The Director Professionalism curriculum consists of the highest quality corporate governance content, backed by research findings, leading practices, faculty and peer expertise, current regulatory requirements, and annual recommendations of the NACD Blue Ribbon Commissions. The program is highly interactive, facilitating a valuable exchange of knowledge among peers.

Upcoming courses will take place August 24-25, 2010 in Laguna Beach, CA and December 6-7 in Tampa, FL.  For more information please visit NACDonline.org/dp or call 202-572-2088.

NACD is also preparing for its annual Corporate Governance Conference in Washington, D.C. October 16-19.  More than 700 directors and executives from publicly traded companies including Caterpillar, FedEx, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Royal Dutch Schell, Jet Blue, etc. will gather to expand their director networks and gain new insights from sessions including:  The SEC Agenda for 2011 with Chairman Mary Schapiro; Crisis Communications: The Board's Role; Performance Metrics That Make a Difference; Audit Committee Effectiveness: Tasking the C-Suite; and Courageous Board Leadership.  For more information about each session and to view the full conference agenda, visit NACDonline.org/conference.

About NACD

The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) is the only membership organization delivering the information and insights that corporate board members need to confidently navigate complex business challenges and enhance shareowner value. With more than 10,000 members, NACD advances exemplary board leadership.  NACD is focused on creating more effective and efficient boards through director-led education and peer forums to share ideas and leading practices based on more than 30 years of primary research. Fostering collaboration among directors and governance stakeholders, NACD is shaping the future of board leadership.  To learn more about NACD, visit NACDonline.org.

SOURCE National Association of Corporate Directors