The International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN) has ended its three-month search for a new managing director after announcing that its acting head, Kerrie Waring, will take on the role.
Waring joined ICGN in 2008 as its chief operating officer, taking the reins as the organization celebrated a quick intake of new members. Following the departure of Carl Rosen – who left to head the Swedish Shareholders’ Association in 2011 – she took over as acting head of the investor-led organization.
The new ICGN managing director describes this year – the trade body’s 20th anniversary – as a crucial turning point in the organization’s growth.
‘Our early years focused on building a community of like-minded professionals to advance the cause of corporate governance reform,’ explains Waring. ‘Today, the focus is on supporting our members in their efforts to promote good corporate governance practice, and in particular actively supporting our investor community to act as engaged and informed owners.’
Waring is also currently leading a review of ICGN’s flagship governance guidelines, which are intended to encourage its members to maintain effective and robust standards of corporate governance. She has been responsible for many of the organization’s previous schemes, too, including an education program backed by the European Commission and the Global Network of Investor Associations’ set-up.
Michelle Edkins, ICGN’s chairman, says Waring’s appointment suits the new direction the trade body is planning to take. ‘Kerrie is ideally suited to realize our strategy in being the leading international voice for investors on corporate governance reform and to serve our members in helping them to connect with one another and stay informed about global governance matters,’ she explains.
‘Her proven commerciality is an added strength at a time when we are exploring a number of business development initiatives to continue to build our policy strength and expand our member footprint around the world.’
Before arriving at ICGN, Waring held senior corporate governance roles at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and the Institute of Directors.
She is also the co-author of the Handbook of international corporate governance and the first Global Corporate Governance Forum’s Toolkit on director training.
