The Conference Board and Leading Professional Firms Join Forces to Offer Corporate Governance Research and Peer Networking to India's Public Companies

MUMBAI, India, Jan. 11, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The Conference Board announces the launch of The Directors' Collective, a new initiative that brings together the independent research and thought leadership of The Conference Board with the subject matter and global expertise of professional services firm KPMG, executive search firm Russell Reynolds Associates and law firm Khaitan & Co. The collaboration is designed to guide corporate directors in carrying governance and compliance responsibilities as India Inc. prepares for the complex demands placed upon board members and senior executives by The Companies Act 2013, the revised Clause 49 of the listing agreement of the Securities Exchange Bureau of India (SEBI), and other upcoming industry-specific regulations.

The Directors' Collective will assemble a holistic suite of knowledge assets—encompassing educational publications and benchmarking research; immersive workshops, webcasts and other training programs; and peer networking groups.  To mark its launch, The Directors' Collective is releasing the Handbook on Corporate Governance in India: Legal Standards and Board Practices, the inaugural piece in a portfolio of research publications and practical comparative tools similar to those that have made The Conference Board one of the most recognized knowledge providers in the United States. The portfolio will include Director Notes—India Edition and the Corporate Intelligence suite of benchmarks on director and executive compensation, board composition and director qualifications, CEO succession planning, social and environmental corporate practices, and shareholder activity. 

"In the last two decades, The Conference Board has been a trusted source of independent corporate governance research and best practices for U.S. public companies. We are very pleased to join a talented group of regional professionals to bring to India our distinctive approach to benchmarking and peer networking," said Matteo Tonello, Vice President and Managing Director of Corporate Leadership at The Conference Board.  

"KPMG in India has been a thought leader in matters that are of utmost importance to corporate directors such as corporate governance, risk management, internal financial controls, assurance, tax and other related regulatory matters.  Through the Directors' Collective initiative, we are trying to provide a more holistic point-of-view in these areas from the perspectives of a consultant, researcher, lawyer and a HR professional," said Mritunjay Kapur, Head of Risk Consulting at KPMG in India.

"We are delighted to partner with The Conference Board to found the Directors' Collective. Russell Reynolds Associates has a depth of experience in board governance and effectiveness globally. We look forward to bringing this expertise to India to help boards grapple with the changing landscape," said Sanjay Kapoor, Managing Director at Russell Reynolds Associates.

"It is a matter of pride to be partnering with The Conference Board in this venture. As one of India's oldest law firms, Khaitan & Co has been in the unique position of being trusted counsel to several traditional promoter- driven Indian business houses, as well as large MNCs without identified promoters. This has enabled the firm to observe how the standards and norms of corporate governance have continued to evolve in India. We are happy to be able to bring our collective experience and insights gained over the years to a platform such as the Directors' Collective," said Ravi Kulkarni, Senior Partner at Khaitan & Co, Mumbai.   

"With The Directors' Collective, we are bringing to fruition an innovative partnership with a substantive, integrated suite of knowledge offerings to support heads of governance, compliance and company directors. This is a proposition which we believe is unique in India today," added Nicholas Sutcliffe, Managing Director of The Conference Board in Asia.

For an overview of The Directors' Collective, please Click Here

About The Conference Board
The Conference Board is a global, independent business membership and research association working in the public interest. Founded in 1916, our mission is unique:  to provide the world's leading organizations with the practical knowledge they need to improve their performance and better serve society. The Conference Board is a non-advocacy, not-for-profit entity holding 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status in the United States. For more information, visit www.conference-board.org. Follow us on Twitter @Conferenceboard.org and @TCBAsiaPacific

About KPMG
KPMG in India, a professional services firm, is the Indian member firm of KPMG International and was established in September 1993. Our professionals leverage the global network of firms, providing detailed knowledge of local laws, regulations, markets and competition. KPMG has offices across India in Delhi, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Hyderabad, and Kolkata. We strive to provide rapid, performance-based, industry-focused and technology-enabled services, which reflect a shared knowledge of global and local industries and our experience of the Indian business environment. Please visit http://www.kpmg.com/in/en/pages/default.aspx

About Russell Reynolds Associates
Russell Reynolds Associates is a global leader in assessment, recruitment and succession planning for boards of directors, chief executive officers and key roles within the C-suite. With more than 370 consultants in 46 offices around the world, we work closely with public, private and nonprofit organizations across all industries and regions. We help our clients build teams of transformational leaders who can meet today's challenges and anticipate the digital, economic, environmental and political trends that are reshaping the global business environment. To find out more, please visit www.russellreynolds.com

About Khaitan and Co.
Founded in 1911, Khaitan & Co ("The Firm") is one of the oldest Indian law firms. The Firm combines a rich heritage of over a hundred years with modern, cutting edge and solution oriented legal practice and offers full service legal solutions to its domestic and international clients. The Firm has a strength of over 430 fee earners, including 103 partners across its four offices in Bengaluru, Kolkata, Mumbai and New Delhi. The Firm's practice areas have been widely recognised by various leading international rankings and publications including Chambers and Partners, Legal 500 and IFLR 1000. The Firm's Corporate/M&A practice and several other practice areas including Banking and finance, Capital markets, Competition/Antitrust, Dispute Resolution, Energy, Infrastructure and Resources, Environment laws, Estate planning, Trusts and Private clients, Hospitality, Investment Funds, Intellectual property, Labour and Employment laws, Private Equity, Real Estate, Taxation and Technology, Media and Telecom feature prominently in various leading international and Indian publications.

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