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Why do Capable Boards Fail?
July 19, 2026
After every corporate scandal, we blame individuals and rewrite the rules. But what if we’re fixing the wrong problem? In this short video I explain
Category: Reviews Of Corporate Failures
Not so pretty Polly
July 17, 2026
In the late 1980s, Polly Peck International was the City’s “wonder stock”. Analysts reportedly adorned the covers of their research reports with full-page portraits of
BP’s Manifold Pressure
June 22, 2026
On 26 May, the BP Board put out an extraordinary statement, saying that: ‘…it has today unanimously decided that Albert Manifold should no longer serve
Corporate Governance must be about people
April 3, 2024
32 years after the Cadbury Report defined modern corporate governance rules, corporate scandals continue to happen. Another version of the Corporate Governance Code came out
Non-executive directors beware! They may be coming for you.
October 27, 2023
At the very last minute the Insolvency Service, acting for the UK Government, has just abandoned disqualification proceedings against five former non-executive directors of Carillion,
Politician, heal thyself
June 19, 2023
A company with just £24m annual revenue goes bankrupt with £1.9 bn of debts and a further £0.6m financing commitments. It made two appallingly large
FTX – the last word in corporate governance
November 21, 2022
In case any of us forget the importance of good corporate governance, have a look at the administrator John Jay III’s declaration* on the collapse
Is Morrisons property portfolio really worth £9bn?
July 7, 2021
“Fears over Morrisons estate being sold on cheap…The shops, warehouses and factories owned by Wm Morrisons could be worth almost £9 billion – double the
Corporate failures: Education,not more regulation
July 7, 2021
How do we improve corporate performance and avoid more corporate failures? The government is clear: We need more regulation. ‘Restoring trust in audit and corporate
Sir Ken Morrison – his legacy and private equity
July 6, 2021
There is a lot of discussion at the moment about the legacy of Sir Ken Morrison and whether would have approved of a private equity