Latest news with #AnnualDirectors'Conclave
Hans India
a day ago
- Business
- Hans India
Sebi chief for redefining independent directors
New Delhi: Capital markets regulator Sebi chief Tuhin Kanta Pandey on Friday called for redefining the role of independent directors, emphasising that they must be regarded and treated as stewards of accountability.'We cannot continue to view them as honorary appointees or friendly critics. They must be viewed and treated as stewards of accountability,' Pandey said while addressing the 2025 Annual Directors' Conclave. According to him, this transformation requires a change in multiple areas. Independent directors must feel free to dissent and be well-versed in emerging risks such as AI governance, cyber threats, and ESG disclosures. Their orientation should be ongoing, rather than limited to a one-time induction. Pandey stressed the need for broader diversity in board composition, drawing talent from varied sectors, younger professionals, regional voices, and individuals outside familiar networks. 'A board that never disagrees is not aligned - it's asleep. Divergent views, when rooted in purpose and mutual respect, strengthen the board. They test assumptions, lead to deeper discussions, and enable constructive decision-making,' he stated.
Economic Times
a day ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Sebi chief Tuhin Kanta Pandey highlights need to redefine independent directors' role
Sebi chief Tuhin Kanta Pandey spoke about redefining independent directors' roles. He addressed the 2025 Annual Directors' Conclave. Pandey emphasized that independent directors should be stewards of accountability. He urged them to freely dissent and question information. He highlighted the importance of diverse views for a stronger board. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Mumbai: Sebi chief Tuhin Kanta Pandey on Friday said there is a need to redefine the role of independent directors "We cannot continue to view them as honorary appointees or friendly critics. They must be viewed and treated as stewards of accountability," Pandey said while addressing the 2025 Annual Directors' said this requires change on multiple fronts."Independent directors must feel free to dissent. To question, if the information is not robust," the Sebi chairman said."Because a board that never disagrees is not aligned - it's asleep. Divergent views, when rooted in purpose and mutual respect, strengthens the board."He said that although several directors are highly qualified, they are unfamiliar with emerging risks such as AI governance, cyber threats , or ESG disclosures
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Sebi chief Tuhin Kanta Pandey highlights need to redefine independent directors' role
Mumbai: Sebi chief Tuhin Kanta Pandey on Friday said there is a need to redefine the role of independent directors . "We cannot continue to view them as honorary appointees or friendly critics. They must be viewed and treated as stewards of accountability," Pandey said while addressing the 2025 Annual Directors' Conclave. Productivity Tool Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide By Metla Sudha Sekhar View Program Finance Introduction to Technical Analysis & Candlestick Theory By Dinesh Nagpal View Program Finance Financial Literacy i e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By CA Rahul Gupta View Program Digital Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Neil Patel By Neil Patel View Program Finance Technical Analysis Demystified- A Complete Guide to Trading By Kunal Patel View Program Productivity Tool Excel Essentials to Expert: Your Complete Guide By Study at home View Program Artificial Intelligence AI For Business Professionals Batch 2 By Ansh Mehra View Program He said this requires change on multiple fronts. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Access all TV channels anywhere, anytime Techno Mag Learn More Undo "Independent directors must feel free to dissent. To question, if the information is not robust," the Sebi chairman said. "Because a board that never disagrees is not aligned - it's asleep. Divergent views, when rooted in purpose and mutual respect, strengthens the board." Live Events He said that although several directors are highly qualified, they are unfamiliar with emerging risks such as AI governance, cyber threats , or ESG disclosures .
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Stop being honorary, become accountable stewards: Sebi chief to directors
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has urged corporate boards to rethink their functioning, warning against treating governance as a box-ticking compliance exercise. Speaking at the 2025 Annual Directors' Conclave organised by the Institute of Directors, Sebi Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey said independent directors can no longer be 'honorary appointees' or 'friendly critics' — they must evolve into active stewards of accountability. 'Governance should not be a checklist, but should be treated as breathing value,' Pandey said. He noted that while boards often spend significant time poring over compliance packs, they rarely debate signals about organisational culture. 'Independent directors may have a seat at the table — but are they truly being heard, or merely counted? We have diversity on paper, but do we have diversity of thought?' he asked. Pandey flagged the growing gap between how companies operate and how boards oversee them — citing examples such as start-ups going public with soaring valuations but no profit history, or AI models making pricing and hiring decisions. 'Markets are no longer driven purely by financials. Stakeholders now ask: What do you stand for? What are you doing for the planet, for your people and for the public trust?' he said, urging boards to have deeper conversations around succession planning and whistle-blower trends. The Sebi chief pressed for diversification in independent director appointments — across experience, sectors and demographics — backed by ongoing orientation on AI governance, cyber threats and ESG disclosures. 'Independent directors must feel free to dissent. To question, if the information is not robust,' Pandey said. He also advocated adopting digital tools to strengthen governance. 'Today's boards can and should demand real-time dashboards that provide meaningful insights — not just volumes of PDF reports. Imagine dashboards that track red-flag employee exits, whistle-blower complaints, ESG trends or vendor concentration risks — and bring them to the board's attention before they hit the news,' he said. The board as a 'team of navigators' Using a maritime analogy, Pandey likened companies to ships with the CEO as captain and the board as compass: '…But imagine that ship not steered by one captain, but a team of navigators — each with different instruments, different vantage points, and a shared duty to keep the journey safe, legal and honourable. That team is the board,' he said. Over the years, Pandey noted, Sebi has 'progressively deepened' its corporate governance framework, detailing requirements for board composition, independence and the operation of key committees — including audit, nomination and remuneration, and risk management.
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Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Independent directors must be stewards of accountability: Sebi chief
Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey on Friday called for redefining the role of independent directors, stressing that they should be recognised and treated as stewards of accountability, news agency PTI reported. "We cannot continue to view them as honorary appointees or friendly critics. They must be viewed and treated as stewards of accountability," Pandey said while addressing the 2025 Annual Directors' Conclave. He stated that this transformation would require changes across multiple areas. Independent directors should feel free to express dissent and be well-versed in emerging risks such as artificial intelligence (AI) governance, cyber threats, and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosures. Need for diversity Pandey underlined the importance of greater diversity in board composition by bringing in talent from diverse sectors outside established networks. "A board that never disagrees is not aligned - it's asleep. Divergent views, when rooted in purpose and mutual respect, strengthen the board. They test assumptions, lead to deeper discussions, and enable constructive decision-making," he stated. He outlined his vision for "shaping tomorrow's board", which includes leveraging technology for smarter governance. Embracing technology for governance On technology adoption, Pandey urged boards not to perceive digital tools as burdens or threats. Instead, they should request real-time dashboards that offer meaningful insights. These could track indicators such as red-flag employee exits, whistle-blower complaints, ESG trends, or vendor concentration risks, alerting the board before such matters escalate into public issues. "Governance intelligence must become as routine as financial intelligence," he asserted. Pandey also emphasised cognitive diversity, asking: "Do we have enough contrarian thinkers in the room? Do we have people who see risk differently -- not more fearfully, but more perceptively?" Guardrails against fraud Earlier, the Sebi chief had stated that corporate misgovernance incidents, such as the fraud at Gensol Engineering or front running by a mutual fund manager, were not systemic problems demanding a regulatory overhaul. Rather, they were cases of greed and egregious conduct requiring more proactive intervention from independent directors, boards, and auditors to prevent them. Sebi's proposals for Market Infrastructure Institutions In January, Sebi proposed restructuring the governing boards of market infrastructure institutions (MIIs) such as stock exchanges, clearing corporations, and depositories. The regulator suggested appointing two executive directors (EDs) on the governing board for critical operations, regulatory compliance, and investor grievances. It is also considering clear definitions for the roles and responsibilities of the MD, the proposed EDs, and other key managerial personnel (KMPs) such as the chief technology officer (CTO).
