Investor Engagement During COVID-19

In brief: During times of crisis, directors face many challenges in fulfilling their duties. Despite their many competing obligations, the board’s primary responsibility is still to the shareholders. This tool intends to help directors gain a better understanding of what investors expect to hear about when engaging with boards during the COVID-19 crisis, and how boards can create effective crisis management plans with investors in mind:

• Based on a thorough review of investor letters, NACD provides insight into investors’ expectations for shareholder engagement amid the crisis.
• Directors will learn what investors expect from the board’s oversight of board composition, financial resiliency, human capital, and operational risk. 
• Directors will gain an understanding of which key operational topics investors expect to be addressed in crisis-management plans.

Most relevant audiences: nominating & governance committee members, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary, Lead Director