WASHINGTON, Jan. 7, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) today announced the formation of the Global Network of Director Institutes (GNDI), an international partnership between nine leading membership organizations for corporate directors in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Europe, Malaysia, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States.
At a Dec. 12, 2012, meeting in Wellington, New Zealand, GNDI delegates approved terms of reference and elected leaders by unanimous vote. John Colvin, CEO and managing director of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), will serve as chairman; Stan Magidson, president and CEO of the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) in Canada, will serve as deputy chairman.
The GNDI will complement the work of its member organizations by fostering close cooperation between national corporate director organisations and providing a global forum to share experiences, case studies, leading practices and current or emerging corporate governance issues impacting the boardroom and its stakeholders.
"The GNDI brings together the leading associations serving corporate directors from around the world to provide a global voice and sharpen leading practices for boardroom leaders on relevant governance matters that cut across national boundaries," said Ken Daly, president and CEO of the NACD.
Additionally, the GNDI members will collaborate to:
- Anticipate and explore emerging issues having global impacts on corporate governance;
- Develop and promote leading practices and programs that enhance the ability of corporate directors to ensure long-term, sustainable performance for the benefit of shareholders and other stakeholders;
- Educate key influencers regarding the benefits and values of exemplary leadership in the boardroom; and
- Amplify the voices and perspectives of corporate directors on matters related to boardroom leadership.
The founding member institutes of the GNDI include the following organizations, which collectively represent more than 100,000 corporate directors worldwide:
- Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD)
- Brazilian Institute of Corporate Governance (IBGC) in Brazil
- European Confederation of Directors Associations (ecoDa)
- Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) in Canada
- Institute of Directors in New Zealand (IoDNZ)
- Institute of Directors in Southern Africa (IoDSA)
- Institute of Directors (IoD) in the United Kingdom
- Malaysian Alliance of Corporate Directors (MACD)
- National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) in the United States.
Each founding GNDI member will appoint one executive from its organization to participate on the Executive Committee tasked with the management and control of the affairs of GNDI.
Please visit www.GNDI.org for more information about the Global Network of Director Institutes.
About NACD
The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) is the only membership organization focused exclusively on advancing exemplary board leadership. Based on 35 years of experience, NACD identifies, interprets, and provides insights and information that corporate board members rely upon to make sound strategic decisions, confidently confront complex business challenges, and enhance shareowner value. With more than 13,000 corporate director members, NACD provides world-class director education, director training, and proprietary research about leading boardroom and corporate governance practices to promote director professionalism and bolster investor confidence. Furthermore, to create more effective and efficient corporate boards, NACD provides independent board evaluations and custom-tailored in-boardroom education and training programs, as well as director-led conferences, forums, and peer-exchange learning opportunities to share ideas about current and emerging issues. Fostering collaboration among directors and governance stakeholders, NACD is shaping the future of board leadership. To learn more about NACD, visit www.NACDonline.org. To join, please contact Kelly Dodd at kkdodd@nacdonline.org or 202-380-1891.