Tagged: ESG

Implementing ESG Programs: Structure and Responsibilities (Part I of III)

ESG – the initials that are transforming corporate missions, purposes and structures, fueled by stakeholder and investor demand.  It is a significant moment in corporate and stakeholder interactions.  Companies recognize the responsibilities but even more importantly, the opportunities, to build a sustainable and financially profitable organization. But there are significant changes that have to occur along with the ESG objective.  I am dubious about the...

CCOs: Expert Problem Solvers

If you follow my blog, you know that I am passionate about the compliance profession.  Chief compliance officers have unique talents, expertise and leadership qualities.  CCOs are committed ethics warriors.  No one else can claim that same mission. CCOs are the natural stewards of a company’s ethical culture.  Of course, a company can appoint a separate chief ethics officer to distinguish between the ethics and...

ESG and Business Risks – Leveraging Compliance Resources

Chief compliance officers are creative professionals.  This is one of many areas of expertise.  But when it comes to corporate politics, many CCOs know how to package and promote their mission. CCOs faced real constraints and challenges during the pandemic. CCOs were challenged as to why compliance was an important function to preserve in the time of a pandemic which threatened many companies’ very existence. ...

The Big “G” in ESG – CCOs Need to Embrace ESG as a Compliance Opportunity

Chief compliance officers can occasionally suffer from a “complex” (akin to the Jungian one).  CCOs and their priorities are often pushed aside in favor of “more important” corporate initiatives.  CCOs are used to fighting for their initiatives and standing firm when challenged by so-called “competing” priorities. ESG is not a threat to compliance; it is an opportunity.  CCOs cannot be shy when it comes to...

Webinar: Policy Management, Governance and Leveraging Your Culture of Compliance

Webinar: Policy Management, Governance and Leveraging Your Culture of Compliance June 16, 2021, 2 PM EST SIGN UP HERE Companies today face increasing pressure to build effective ethics and compliance programs as part of an overall governance structure. Investors, activists and key stakeholders are pushing for transformative reforms built around environmental, social and governance principles. An essential part of this initiative is a well-designed policy...

EU Mandatory ESG Due Diligence

Alex Cotoia, Regulatory Compliance Manager, at The Volkov Law Group, rejoins us for a posting on ESG due diligence requirements. Alex can be reached at [email protected]. On March 10, 2021—by an overwhelming majority—the European Parliament passed a resolution that directs the European Commission to move forward with a formal directive (“Directive”) mandating Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) due diligence by companies throughout their value chains....

Episode 189 — A Review of the ESG Movement

ESG is firmly implanted in the corporate governance landscape.  Prosecutors and regulatory agencies are quickly adding ESG to their lexicon. The real question for every organization is “what are you doing to address it?”  ESG is a terrific opportunity to leverage an organization’s corporate culture to address a broad set of values beyond ESG principles. In this Episode, Michael Volkov discusses the ESG movement and...

Meeting the ESG Challenge

Perhaps I am little bit behind.  That would be nothing new – but we are getting to the point where we no longer need to spell out ESG.  Everyone knows what it means – directors, officers, employees, investors, shareholders and other stakeholders can spell it out.  ESG is firmly implanted in the corporate governance landscape.  Prosecutors and regulatory agencies are quickly adding ESG to their...

The Rise of ESG In Response to Investor Demand

Corporate governance sometimes is the subject of “fads,” or initiatives that gain traction with dubious evidence-based justifications.  Sometimes companies engage new theories or strategies because they “sound good,” or give corporate leaders a way to avoid or mollify tackling hard issues or difficult tasks. Corporations are quickly embracing Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) issues.  Whether this is “right” or the most effective use of corporate...