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"By mutual consent": Why CEO departure is such a perennial fascination to investors
The manner of a CEO’s departure is a prism through which we can peek – albeit briefly – behind the corporate veil to understand something of the human dynamics that influence corporate success or failure.

Wil James


Is this the end for anti-corruption investigation?
With the suspension of FCPA, is the SFO now really likely to proceed against corrupt businesses? And is the UK government likely to grant fu

Alex Leslie


Rounding up: When does CV exaggeration really start to matter?
For those charged with hiring senior C-Suite executives, the real risk of not paying attention to CV inflation is appointing a candidate who

Wil James


Artificial Intelligence? AI's answers aren't as reliable as they seem
There are undoubted applications for large language models and other forms of artificial intelligence in accelerating the analysis and colla

Alex Leslie


After the Deluge: How will PE manage its talent timebomb?
Failing to spot a senior leadership shortcoming at hiring has the potential to undermine the attractiveness of a portfolio company at exit

Alex Leslie


How much diligence is 'due'?: The perils of sanctions checks
The recent allegations involving Santander and Lloyds Bank remind us that sanctions due diligence is a minefield. It also raises...

Wil James


Caveat Investor: Using Open Source to Combat Scammers
Three ways publicly available information could have alerted Fortress Capital’s victims to risk The collapse of Fortress Capital Partners...

Alex Leslie


Trust and Verify: Where are the Gaps in Senior Hire Diligence?
The resignation of BP boss Bernard Looney throws the spotlight on what companies can and should find out about senior appointments One of...

Wil James


“Creative” CVs: White lies or reputational timebombs?
The allegations of creative CV writing that are swirling around the soon-to-be-ennobled Charlotte Owen are intriguing and should provide...

Alex Leslie


Five Myths about Discreet Referencing
Due diligence professionals have been deploying discreet referencing to understand the background and experience of their clients’...

Wil James


Putting the "due" in due diligence
Financial institutions that did business with Jeffrey Epstein are reportedly braced for a flood of lawsuits from his alleged victims,...

Alex Leslie


What does good due diligence look like in the pandemic?
A lot has changed in the space of a few months. It is almost certain that a lot more will change before the end of this year as the...

Alex Leslie


Damage by association: Prevention is better than cure
I hadn't really spotted the link between Jeremy Clarkson and corporate governance risk, but this article makes a good case for why boards...

Wil James


Managing Financial Crime after Brexit
It’s quite hard at the moment to focus on what the business environment in the UK will look like after B****t. But the Economic Crime...

Wil James
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