Thomson Reuters GRC and Independent Audit Limited to host The Global Board: Realistic Challenge or Unrealistic Expectation

LONDON, October 25, 2011 – Thomson Reuters Governance, Risk & Compliance (accelus.thomsonreuters.com) and Independent Audit Limited (independentaudit.com) today announced that they will host a board-level event that provides CEOs, chairmen, non-executive directors and general counsel a forum to discuss some of the most challenging issues regarding effective board governance today.

Top of the agenda of the Chatham House Rules event will be the challenge of staying on top of the risks posed by the complexity of cross-border operations.

The distinguished panel leading the evening’s discussion is comprised of: Ken Olisa, chairman, Independent Audit Limited, and non-executive director, Thomson Reuters; Douglas Flint, group chairman, HSBC Holdings plc, and former non-executive director of BP plc; Alison Carnwath, chairman, Land Securities plc, and non-executive director of Barclays plc, Man Group plc and PACCAR Inc; Guy Elliot, CFO, Rio Tinto plc, non-executive director of Royal Dutch Shell plc, and former non-executive director of Cadbury plc; and Anthony Hilton, business commentator for the Evening Standard, author, broadcaster, and former city editor of The Times.

Ken Olisa, chair of the event, said: “Governance is a very hot topic these days. With blame for the world’s economic woes being ever more liberally distributed amongst Boards and Regulators, it is vital for responsible business leaders to discuss and address the most pressing issues. How we address these challenges will not only have a significant impact on our businesses – it will have far broader implications for trust in the market and thus for wider economic prosperity.”

David Craig, president, Thomson Reuters Governance, Risk & Compliance, said: “We are delighted to host this board-level event. The tone at the top of an organisation translates into behaviour across the business, and ultimately, to business sustainability and shareholder value. Our clients tell us that the pace of regulatory change, especially for those operating in a multi-jurisdictional organisation, together with the raft of encompassing regulations from The Bribery Act to Dodd-Frank, are among the most challenging issues facing good board governance today. This event provides an important forum for key executives to discuss these challenges and how they are working to meet them.”

Richard Sheath, Partner, Independent Audit said: “The complexities of the Board’s role increase inexorably as its oversight expands across borders and cultures. It’s not just the regulatory angle – you’re also looking at different behaviours, expectations, information flows, reporting lines, management and audit standards, the list goes on. It isn’t possible to eliminate these influences but consistently taking them into account helps strengthen governance. So we hope that this event will help by highlighting further the cross-border governance challenges faced by Boards.”

The invitation-only event (accelus.thomsonreuters.com/globalboardevent) will take place at Goldsmiths’ Hall in London immediately before The Lord Mayor’s Banquet, on Monday, 14 November 2011.