Year: 2020

So… on the day their partners BioNTec announced the success of their vaccine trial, Albert Bourla, the CEO of Pfizer sold $5.6m of shares. How easily does this sit with our sense of business as a force for good? If I were an investor meeting … Continue readingVaccines and profit – a test case for stewardship

The recent death of Bob Gore received too little attention.   WL Gore and Associates is over 60 years old. The company was founded by Bob Gore’s father and mother, but it was Bob who make the great breakthrough by discovering a versatile new polymer … Continue readingRemembering Bob Gore

The Indian state of Kerala has an impressive record for running a good education and health system. It was no surprise to learn that its system of health was on top of Covid 19 from the start. When a man arrived back from Dubai showing … Continue readingLearn from Kerala: Decentralisation is the key to delivery

This week, thanks to an excellent article  by Judy Samuelson of the Aspen Institute, I learned that American Airlines was seeking a US government bailout, having just spent 96% of its positive cashflow on stock buybacks. Before the virus crisis broke, the papers were full … Continue readingDrugs, planes and houses – how public companies short-change the public

This is the text of a lecture I gave at  Liverpool John Moores University on Match 11th: George Goyder – practical prophet and early champion of the responsible company Introduction Good morning. Great to be in Liverpool this morning to share with you the ideas and … Continue readingGeorge Goyder – practical prophet and early champion of the responsible company

How do we make sense of what is happening in China? Last week was privileged to listen to four wise people talking about China, its past and its future. The occasion was a seminar organised by Oxford University’s Faculty of History as part of its Lessons … Continue readingMaking sense of what is happening in China