Sanjiv Anand, Chairman, Cedar Management Consulting International

In this episode, I speak about the evolving role of Boards of Directors in human capital management. In my view, boards can no longer remain distant from people strategy. Their most critical decision is the selection of the CEO — and that choice must reflect the organisation’s immediate need, whether transformation, stabilisation or growth.

I also caution against allowing incoming CEOs to bring an entire “mafia” of loyalists, as this can destabilise culture and dilute institutional continuity. Compensation structures, including meaningful variable pay and ESOPs, must be designed to drive strategic performance, not entitlement.

Ultimately, culture begins at the board level. As organisations across Asia and the Middle East mature, boards will play an increasingly active role in HR governance and long-term leadership alignment.