UK report to seek shake-up for non-executives

Non-executive directors in Britain look set to see the number of posts they can hold limited with the publication of an inquiry report this week.

The review, led by former investment banker and AIB non-executive director Mr Derek Higgs, is also expected to call for the number of independent non-executive directors on boards to be increased.

The British government-sponsored report was set up to look at the role of non-executive directors to see how their independence could be improved following a number of corporate scandals in the US, including Enron and Worldcom.

It is thought the review, which is expected to be published today, will raise concerns about non-executive directors who hold too many posts and do not give enough time to each company.

It is understood that more than half of all non-executive directors have posts in at least three companies.

Mr Higgs is expected to call for the number of directorships that can be held to be limited to five,although there is speculation that people could be barred from being a non-executive at more than one company.

The report is also widely expected to recommend that half of all board members, excluding the chairman, should be independent non-executives, with one appointed to promote shareholders' interests.

And all vacant non-executive positions may have to be advertised to the general public in future in a bid to combat suspicions that posts are filled through an old-boys network.

But the Institute of Directors in the UK called for the report to focus on spreading best practice rather than simply introducing further regulation.

Director general Mr George Cox said: "In looking for improvement, the IoD does not see further regulation as either being necessary or providing an answer.

"This is not because of our general antipathy towards red tape. It is because we believe that regulation fails to get to grips with the real issue.

"The issue is one of spreading best practice and improving the recruitment, selection, preparation, support and performance of non-executives." - (PA)