NACD Leads Director Education Program in Brazil

WASHINGTON, July 20 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of the National Association of Corporate Director's (NACD) ongoing director education efforts, NACD's Managing Director of Board Advisory Services, Suzanne Hopgood, led an interactive course in Sao Paulo to share best practices and advance exemplary board leadership among members of The Brazilian Institute of Corporate Governance (IBGC).  NACD was the only board governance thought leader that was selected by IBGC – the creator of South America's corporate governance structure – to help advance exemplary board leadership with its members and program attendees.

Participating companies included Melitta do Brasil, CPFL, Energia, American Tower do Brazil, Banco C.G., Banco Daycoval and Braskem, among others.  As part of the full-day agenda, NACD and IBGC explored many of the challenges facing directors and boards in the current business environment including ethics in the boardroom, board effectiveness, compensation and evaluation. Specifically, members exchanged insights and ideas related to:

• Internal and external factors impacting directors in the boardroom today
• Relationship of the board to management
• Responsibilities of individual directors, and board's oversight responsibilities  
• Recruiting and maintaining the right combination of industry knowledge, individual skill sets, and technical backgrounds to complement the corporate strategy
• Succession planning best practices
• Committee principles based upon executive compensation decisions

"The one-day director education program far exceeded my expectations. The presented discussion topics were highly relevant and thought provoking; the presenters were very knowledgeable and shared valuable insights. I strongly recommend this program for acting or future board members," said Bernardo Wolfson, President & CEO, Melitta do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda.

Based upon participant accolades and feedback, NACD has been invited to conduct customized director education courses during the IBGC's annual conference in Rio de Janeiro on October 25-27, 2010. The courses will be led by internationally recognized corporate governance expert Suzanne Hopgood.

"We are honored to be a part of the progress IBGC has made in advancing corporate governance practices on a broad scale," said Ken Daly, President and CEO, National Association of Corporate Directors.  "As we continue to broaden the NACD's efforts and reach internationally, we will seek like-minded partners who place the same value on boardroom education and excellence."

IBGC is well known for preparing the Code of Best Practices in Corporate Governance and a founder of the Novo Mercado (New Market), a listing segment of BM&F Bovespa for the trading of shares issued by companies that commit themselves voluntarily to adopt corporate governance practices in addition to those that are required by law.  Similarly, a foundation for NACD's director education courses is the NACD Key Agreed Principles set forth in its Leading the Way initiative, a national effort representing areas where the board, executive management, and shareholder groups agree on benchmarks of good governance. The principles serve as a framework for advocating leading practices in areas including risk oversight, corporate strategy, compensation and transparency.

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.

About IBGC

The Brazilian Institute of Corporate Governance (IBGC) is a non-profit business and international cultural entity principally responsible for the introduction and dissemination of the corporate governance concept in Brazil.  Today, the organization serves as the primary resource in Brazil focused on the development of best practices in corporate governance.

The main goal of the Institute is to instill the importance of disclosure within a company's management, emphasize fairness among partners and illustrate the importance of accountability and corporate responsibility. IBGC has positively influenced high levels of management of non-listed companies.

The IBGC organizes conferences, promotes reference publications, provides executive training, encourages networking amongst professionals as well as contributes to the development of best practices within organizations. For more than a decade, IBGC has delivered personal development courses to more than four thousand executives, entrepreneurs, board members and researchers.

SOURCE National Association of Corporate Directors