Champion of better capitalism
I am a judge. Not in a court of law, but in a rather special company award scheme. For the last 23 years, I have been one of three judges for Mark in Action, an award scheme operated by Unipart Group to recognise outstanding customer … Continue readingBetter judgement
Is the governance and proper conduct of our companies a priority for the UK government and Kwasi Kwarteng, the Business Secretary? It would appear that the answer is ‘no’. The whole UK system of listed companies depends for its regulation on the workings of … Continue readingFirst steps towards a wealth creation manifesto
‘It was getting hotter’. These are the opening words of ‘The Ministry for the Future’, a science fiction novel by Kim Stanley Robinson. The opening chapter is set in Lucknow, India. As the sun rises in the sky, ‘people were dying faster than ever’. This … Continue readingA national discomfort policy
Last week I was invited by the UK’s Institute of Directors (IoD) to hear a discussion about the proposal for a Better Business Act (BBA) This comes from the UK branch of the admirable B Corp movement, which has attracted 3720 companies in 74 countries … Continue readingThe Better Business Act – a charter for pie splitters?
Last week I compared the Big Four Accounting firms with the Church and said that their plans to invest heavily in the market for ESG reminded me of the sale of Indulgences in the early church. So what should the Big Four do in response … Continue readingArchitects or plumbers – the big four’s ESG dilemma
For the medieval church the quest for salvation was a major concern. Demonstrating your faith through good works was a good way to save your soul from purgatory. And so emerged the concept of indulgences, which could be granted by popes, as measurable ways of … Continue readingESG and the lucrative market for salvation
Oh to be a fly on the wall in the Exxon boardroom as Alexander Krasner joins Kaisa Hietala and Gregory Goff for their first meeting. While these three well-qualified champions of decarbonisation were endorsed by the votes of shareholders, Darren Woods, the Chairman & CEO, … Continue readingFrom hubris to hybrid
The BBC reported last week that a local councillor who oversaw the Grenfell Tower refurbishment has admitted questioning the colour of the cladding – but not whether it was safe. Rock Feilding-Mellen told a public inquiry that he believed safety was being handled by experts … Continue readingNone of us can outsource our consciences
I love this time of year. Here in Suffolk the ground is carpeted in bluebells. The sun shines through the early growth on the beech trees. This year I love it all the more because I recently had a cataract removed. I see things more … Continue readingThere is no wealth but life
In early April Boris Johnson was explaining capitalism to his backbenchers. The vaccine success, he confidently asserted, was all about greed. Later in the month greed was back in the headlines, with the billionaire owners of football clubs and their proposal for a European Super … Continue readingGreed, Super Leagues and Sewage