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Like all major employers, insurance companies are dealing with operational and workforce disruptions, as millions of their employees – adjusters, actuaries, underwriters, and risk and loss control managers, as well as analysts, as examples – adapt to a remote work environment.
The industry’s policyholder surplus, invested funds set aside by insurers to pay claims, is under pressure as asset…
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This issue of The Bulletin is the second of our two-part discussion of the challenge in finding equilibrium in these uncertain times. In Part 1, we discussed the attributes and actions needed to find equilibrium in the likely phased transition from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown.[1] Given that a period of ongoing change will follow the lockdown, equilibrium means…
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In a crisis, clear thinking is needed in the boardroom. The unprecedented nature of the COVID-19 pandemic has set in motion one of the most abrupt disruptions in decades, leaving organisations reeling with uncertainty as fear spreads faster than the virus itself.
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis could very well present the ultimate test of resiliency — for leading companies in…
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Data proliferation and data privacy regulatory activity across the globe have created the need for focused boardroom discussions.
While cybersecurity continues to be an issue for boards, a more targeted focus on data privacy is increasingly necessary to ensure compliance across a rapidly expanding number of privacy regulations. Privacy risk represents a unique challenge driven by the volume and…
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A recent Protiviti global survey indicates varying views across different executive groups about the overall risk environment. CEOs rate the relative riskiness of the business environment higher for 2022 than anyone else, jumping from the lowest rating in 2021 to the highest rating in 2022. Also, the number of risks that CEOs noted would have a “significant impact on their business”…
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The 2020s are well on their way to earning the ominous label of a troubling, disruptive decade, but there remain viable opportunities amid the challenges. What is the board’s role in preparing the organisation for “show-stopping” and potentially existential risks?
The Story: A global board survey conducted by McKinsey of approximately 1,500 corporate directors found that directors “are not…
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As they self-assess their performance periodically, audit committees may find useful the illustrative questions we have made available in our Assessment Questions for Audit Committees to Consider. Committee members should periodically assess the committee’s composition, charter and agenda focus in view of the company’s industry, circumstances, risks, financial reporting issues and current…
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As in prior years, our suggested 2023 audit committee agenda includes important enterprise, process and technology issues and financial reporting and disclosure issues. In addition to discussing these agenda items, we have offered questions for audit committees to consider when self-assessing their own performance with respect to executing the normal ongoing activities articulated in the…
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Global research indicates that companies in North America are less committed to environmental, social and governance (ESG) engagement than those in Europe and Asia-Pacific. What steps should boards seeking to improve their ESG engagement take?
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Ransomware is a current threat many people are struggling to understand and manage. Amid the headlines and uncertainty, how can the board respond strategically?
Reputation damage, hefty ransoms and business continuity are all concerns with ransomware. But the core of the conversation is about the potential loss of intellectual property and customer information and the specter of unpleasant…