Press Releases

John Gollifer will take up his new role from 15 November 2023 as Jane Valls retires while continuing to support the Institute as an external advisor and consultant. The Board of Governors is delighted to advise that John Gollifer has been appointed, effective 15 November 2023, as our new CEO, taking over from Jane Valls who has expressed her wish to retire and move into an advisory role.

Family businesses are woven into the fabric of the UAE. Already responsible for a large percentage of the country’s GDP, they will play a key role in driving forward the UAE’s economic goals. But, as these businesses shift from one generation to the next, challenges around succession, inheritance, and governance have begun to arise.

New governance guidelines like the framework recently issued in Dubai by the Dubai Centre for Family Businesses are creating a clearer path for families navigating these emerging challenges.

The Global Network of Director Institutes (GNDI) has met over the last few days in London, from July 16th to Wednesday 19th July 2023. These have been the first meetings that the GNDI members have participated in person since the meetings held in Dubai in 2019. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the GNDI have only met on digital platforms and have elevated the operations and brand of the GNDI through these online platforms. The GNDI is a network of leading director institutes from around the world.

The GCC Board Directors Institute (GCC BDI), a non-profit organisation dedicated to equipping board directors with the knowledge and resources to achieve and maintain effective corporate governance, proudly announced the launch of its Riyadh Membership Chapter on 15 June. This momentous occasion was made possible through the generous sponsorship of PwC Middle East. The establishment of the Riyadh Chapter signifies a major milestone in the Institute's dedication to cultivating strong business relationships within the Kingdom and providing a thriving professional network for its esteemed members.

An online survey – involving 119 senior executives and board directors from six Gulf countries – was held in partnership with the GCC Board Directors Institute & McKinsey & Company.

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 2 November, 2022: The GCC Board Directors Institute (GCC BDI), a not-for-profit organisation that guides board directors of organisations in acquiring the know-how and tools to reach and sustain effective corporate governance, today announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding [MoU] with the National Center for Family Business [NCFB], an organisation committed to strengthening the role of family business in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and ensuring their sustainability.

His Excellency Khalid Al Falih, Minister of Investment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has reinforced the growing emphasis on sustainable investment in the Kingdom and the need for a strong commitment from the corporate sector to long-term value creation through impact investments and focus on sustainable projects.

The GCC Board Directors Institute (GCC BDI), a not-for-profit organization that promotes board effectiveness and good corporate governance, supporting GCC boards and board directors, celebrating its 15th Anniversary this year, has announced that it will convene the 8th edition of its flagship event, The Chairman Summit, in Riyadh on 6 October. The annual flagship event will bring together influential chairpersons, board members and C-Suite executives from across the GCC region and beyond to explore the ever-evolving role of boards and the implementation of best practices in corporate governance.

GCC Board Directors Institute (GCC BDI), a not-for-profit organisation that guides board directors of organisations in acquiring the know-how and tools to reach and sustain effective corporate governance, is celebrating its 15th anniversary of excellence in promoting professional board directorship and raising the level of board effectiveness across the Gulf.

APCO Worldwide and GCC Board Directors Institute (GCC BDI) released the results of a joint study seeking to better understand where companies in the region are on their ESG journey, their priority issues and barriers to ESG implementation, Liam D. Clarke, senior director and head of APCO’s MENA Climate Practice, announced today.