Let's Talk EU

The investment industry is facing a cultural shift as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) become crucial elements in attracting and retaining talent, whoever it comes from. Josina introduces Sarah Maynard, Global Head, External Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion at CFA Institute. She recognizes that an organization with an inclusive culture results in better investor outcomes, and is a better place to work. To lead the industry in this direction, CFA Institute has developed a voluntary code to guide DEI, beginning in the United States and Canada.

As the EU looks to advance its Capital Market Union and Single Market plans, one key issue stands on its way: reducing differences between national laws and providing European institutions with a single set of rules to follow – the Single Rulebook. Josina Kamerling talks us through the concept of supervisory convergence and recent developments around the theme as she poses the question: is the EU trying to become a fortress or open its doors for dialogue?

Josina Kamerling, Susan Spinner, CFA, CEO of CFA Society Germany, and Martina Bahl, CFA, CFA Society Germany's Advocacy member, discuss the findings of the joint CFA Institute and CFA Society Germany report "Stakeholder capitalism in Action - Spotlight on Germany's Works Councils", which looks at how stakeholder capitalism is applied in Germany through the concept of employee co-determination.

Josina Kamerling discusses the Pan-European Personal Pension Product (PEPP) regulation, with Hans Van Meerten, professor of European Pension Law at Utrecht University. Effective January 1 2022, 240 million savers in the EU will get better pension choices. This episode covers the background of the legislation and discusses how EU pension reform, most notably in the Netherlands, signals a profound rethinking of the subject.

Josina Kamerling, co-president of the Prize Jury discusses with her co-president Prof. Paul Dembinski about this edition's laureates, what themes are emerging and what needs to change in the financial industry for sustainability to function. Following the high-level commitments at COP26, how can we walk the talk?

Josina Kamerling introduces us to Simon Rawson from ShareAction, an UK-based charity that advocates for responsible investment. They discuss the impact of Covid-19 on stakeholder engagement in firms, and specifically the role of Annual General Meetings (AGMs) in shaping business conduct.

Josina Kamerling and Rhodri Preece, CFA, Senior Head of Industry Research at CFA Institute talk about the findings of the CFA Institute 'Future of Work in Investment Management' survey, which gives us a glimpse of the evolution of work post-pandemic. They also discuss how regulators are coping with the new virtual work environment and the risks it brings from the perspectives of location policy, tax implications, operational risk, supervision of business conduct, among others.

Josina Kamerling walks us through the findings of the CFA Institute survey report 'COVID-19, One Year Later: Capital Markets Entering Uncharted Waters', which captured the thoughts of thousands of our members on the impact of the pandemic on global financial markets, and discusses the EU regulatory response to the crisis.

The pandemic is likely to change the role of company boards and the way people look at companies. The fourth edition of the CFA Institute investor trust study reveals consumers and employees want to have the power to influence companies. They also believe that CEOs must lead on societal issues such as the pandemic impact on the economy and job automation.

Hear from Leena Linnainmaa, Secretary General at Directors' Institute Finland, Chair of the European Confederation of Directors Associations (ecoDa) and expert on corporate governance, company law, securities markets law and women in leadership issues.

Recently, CFA Institute published the new report "Corporate Governance and ESG disclosure in the EU", which looks at how ESG developments and corporate governance policies may merge into new regulatory frameworks aimed at strengthening the link between companies and the wider society, including shareholders and other stakeholders. Hear from experts on the current obstacles to corporate accountability and protection of shareholder rights, and the effects of ESG integration in EU companies' business models.