2026 NACD Public Company

Board Practices and Oversight Survey

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Committees & Roles

Core Oversight Topics

About the 2026 Public Company Survey

Boards are navigating oversight demands that look nothing like they did just five years ago. Multiplying and interrelated developments across technological, geopolitical, regulatory, economic, and demographic factors are challenging organizations’ strategy execution, risk profiles, and the capacity of management and the workforce to respond.

The 2026 NACD Public Company Board Practices and Oversight Survey explores how boards are responding to these shifting expectations with benchmarking data and insights on oversight practices in three key areas: strategy execution, risk, and human capital.

The 2026 NACD Public Company Board Practices and Oversight Survey report presents results from our annual questionnaire. This report details responses from 192 individuals who serve on or support public company boards.

Analysis

Strategy Execution Oversight

Boards need to adopt a forward-looking posture in assessing strategy execution without becoming overly involved in operational decisions.

Risk Oversight

In a volatile environment, boards face the challenge of balancing risk mitigation against strategic growth and innovation opportunities.

Human Capital Oversight

As fast-moving and transformational technologies like AI promise to radically reshape the workforce, board human capital oversight practices must keep up.

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Methodology

Leveraging its proprietary member database as a sample frame, NACD sent email invitations to directors and those who support the work of the boards of publicly traded companies, asking them to participate in the 2026 Board Practices and Oversight Survey. The survey was distributed via email, and it was in the field from April 16 to May 18. Respondents were instructed to respond on behalf of one of the boards on which they serve.

Reported percentages are based on the total number of responses specific to each question. For example, if a question received responses from only 100 out of 192 total respondents, and 75 respondents answered “yes” while 25 answered “no,” the result is reported as 75 percent affirmative. In some cases, survey responses totaling less than 5 percent are not represented in graphics for the sake of clarity.

Respondents Summary

Respondents hold a variety of roles on boards of publicly traded companies that vary in size and sector. See details in the graphs below.

Respondent Role

Independent director

92%

General counsel/Corporate secretary

2%

Other corporate executive

2%

Nonindependent, nonexecutive director

2%

Executive director

1%

CEO

1%

Board member roles by percentage
Role	Percentage
Independent director	92%
General counsel/Corporate secretary	2%
Other corporate executive	2%
Nonindependent, nonexecutive director	2%
Executive director	1%
CEO	1%

Source: 2026 NACD Public Company Board Practices and Oversight Survey, n= 192

Sector

Financials

19%

Industrials

16%

Consumer Discretionary

11%

Health Care

9%

IT/Communication Services

9%

Consumer Staples

9%

Energy

9%

Utilities

9%

Materials

8%

Real Estate

2%

Industry Sector Distribution
Sector	Percentage
Financials	19%
Industrials	16%
Consumer Discretionary	11%
Health Care	9%
IT/Communication Services	9%
Consumer Staples	9%
Energy	9%
Utilities	9%
Materials	8%
Real Estate	2%

Source: 2026 NACD Public Company Board Practices and Oversight Survey, n= 159

Annual Revenue

Organization revenue size distribution
Category	Share
$1B or more	70%
Less than $1B	30%

Source: 2026 NACD Public Company Board Practices and Oversight Survey, n= 159

Market Capitalization

Large-Cap: $10 billion or more

Mid-Cap: $2 billion to $10 billion

Small-Cap: $300 million to $2 billion

Micro-Cap: Less than $300 million

Market capitalization distribution by category
Category	Range	Percentage
Large-Cap	$10 billion or more	33%
Mid-Cap	$2 billion to $10 billion	36%
Small-Cap	$300 million to $2 billion	23%
Micro-Cap	Less than $300 million	9%

Source: 2026 NACD Public Company Board Practices and Oversight Survey, n= 160