Corporate Governance Practice

…building great, high performing Boards

High growth companies touched by constantly changing challenges and issues benefit from the guidance and insight of Directors who understand these issues. Today, a superlative corporate Board not only represents shareholder interests but also creates a competitive advantage and is a strategic asset of the company, measured by the contributions Directors make--collectively and individually--to the long-term success of the company. As companies become more accountable and transparent, the importance of developing an independent, strategic, diverse, effective, and high-performing Board and corporate governance system becomes more compelling.

Levin & Company’s client-driven Corporate Governance Practice brings a fresh approach to Director recruiting and governance consulting by focusing on strategic, customized win-win solutions to complex Board challenges, which directly contribute to improved shareholder value. We endorse a holistic approach to building high performing Boards. We have first-hand Board experience and in-depth knowledge of the latest governance regulations, trends, and best practices. As seasoned corporate governance consultants, we bring unique expertise, experience, a systematic approach, and a level of objectivity, accountability, diligence, integrity, and independence to our governance consulting and Director recruiting process, which helps contribute to Board buy-in and fulfills the highest priorities of our clients.

Seeking third party advice on governance issues lends credibility and helps bring issues to light that may not be as obvious from within. We provide expert, independent counsel on corporate governance issues and best practices to assist clients to compose and structure their Boards for optimal performance and to maximize the value of the Board as a strategic resource. Our customized governance consulting services encompass all aspects of good governance, including Board development, composition, succession, assessment, leadership, education, processes, structure, effectiveness, compensation, communication, information, and culture. We help Boards develop tools to evaluate their own performance; design and oversee the transformation process when a Board is undergoing significant change; present recommendations on infrastructure and process, and provide benchmarking analysis against other Boards and established best practices.

Our seasoned consultants are also experts in Director recruiting. Levin & Company believes that a Board should be more than a body of personalities with individual qualifications. The Board should be dynamic and evolve to reflect a balanced and complementary set of personal characteristics and professional skills which contribute to a company's growth and success at each stage of development. This is based on the fundamental belief that the best ideas come from open minds and diverse perspectives, with experienced, multifaceted, and independent Directors bringing a full range of perspectives to help the company set strategies, assess options, and make the best decisions.

Before initiating a Board assignment, we gain an in-depth knowledge of our client--its people, culture, and business strategy. Utilizing our extensive assessment tools and research resources and networks, we identify the outstanding Director whose experience, commitment, values and skills most successfully match our client’s need in order to strengthen the Board. In addition to the traditional selection criteria for Director candidates, we focus on the expertise and competencies needed by our clients to meet both present and future challenges, priorities, and strategies to sustain growth and gain profitability. We also consider individual attributes such as industry leadership or stature, cultural diversity, global networking, passion for the business, and “fit” within the culture and dynamics of the Board.

Identifying Directors who are not only best qualified but also available to serve on a particular Board entails a great deal of work and experience and may be a strain on the Governance and Nominating committee, particularly in light of its many duties. That is why Boards come to us—we can guide them through what can be a time-consuming and complex process and help them arrive at the most effective solution. Knowing the candidate pool, whom to approach, how to approach them, what their potential scheduling and competitive conflicts may be, and what kinds of Boards they are interested in are critical considerations.

The Levin & Company team is committed to excellence in service by providing “first in class” innovative governance solutions and distinguished Director candidates who will not only meet our client’s highest standards but also directly contribute to improved shareholder value. We partner and build long-term relationships with our clients nationally and internationally. Our goal is strategic Board building to enhance corporate success.