What inspired you to become a member of the Virtual Advisory Board community?
I stepped down from an executive career two years ago and have been doing a combination of consulting and mentoring work whilst pursuing board roles. During the past six months, I secured two: one as an NED for an executive recruitment firm and the other as a NED for a mutual society. My goal is to reduce my consultancy work as I secure more board and/or advisory roles. I recently met with an ex-Coca Cola colleague who mentioned VAB to me and suggested that I join. I believe that VAB, as a community, offers great networking opportunities with like-minded people; an opportunity to learn new skills and a great platform for acquiring new roles.
In what area do you feel board advisors can add the most value for Boards of Directors (BoDs) and executive teams?
There are many advantages of having board advisor. They can bring a real outside perspective on key strategic issues and can contribute different skill sets and experiences that may be missing in the incumbent executive and board teams. Many advisors will also act as mentors and provide a sounding board for key members of the leadership team. Plus, they can expand the networks and help forge connections that might be beneficial to business expansion or future funding.
What would be your dream company/organization to work with as a board advisor/NED? I like to work with companies who have a challenge that could be solved using consumer and/or customer insights to develop both effective communication plans and customer experiences. I have contributed to short- and long-term growth strategies for complex, multi-billion dollar organisations as well as start-ups and SMEs. I enjoy helping businesses launch new products and services and supporting their entry onto new markets.
What book would you recommend to VAB members that might improve their skills in corporate governance, board advisory or boosting board-to-executive team communications?
For members who are considering an advisory or NED role with a UK business, a good starting point is The UK Corporate Governance Code published by the Financial Reporting Council. There are also lots of free resources made available by organisations such as NEDA (the Non-Executive Directors Association).
Follow Annabel Venner on LinkedIn.
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