ICGN 2021 Governance & Stewardship Awardees

ICGN presented four awards to recognise outstanding corporate governance and investor stewardship leaders at the ICGN Global Virtual Summit on 3rd November 2021.

Lifetime Achievement Award

Former Head of Division, Corporate Governance and Corporate Finance Division in the Directorate for Financial and Enterprise Affairs at the OECD, Mats Isaksson was awarded the prestigious ‘ICGN Lifetime Achievement Award’. Mats has been described as a visionary, and without his leadership the corporate governance landscape would not be what it is today. Under his watch, the G20/OECD Principles have come to embody the consensus among policy makers that the quality of corporate governance remains critical to economic development and social welfare.

Upon accepting the award, Mats said:

“It is a great honour to follow in the footsteps of my mentors Sir Adrian Cadbury and Ira Millstein in receiving this award. While this is a lifetime achievement award I still look ahead to a corporate governance environment where business can continue to help lifting all boats.”

Excellence in Corporate Governance

Santiago Chaher, Managing Director, Cefeidas Group was awarded the ICGN Excellence in Corporate Governance Award. Santiago receives the award for his dedication to corporate governance in Latin America, particularly his contributions to the New Argentine Corporate Governance Code (2019), the ongoing success of the Bolsas y Mercados Argentino’s corporate governance-focused listing segment and improving board diversity in Argentina and Latin America.

Upon accepting the award, Santiago said:

“I am grateful for this extraordinary recognition I have received for my work. I am lucky to have not one, but a group of mentors who are all part of the ICGN family. I have been fortunate to have continually met inspired, talented and skilled people who I have been able to learn from. I think this characteristic is the mark of successful performance today and in this, the ICGN has been, and will remain of vital importance to positively influence good governance and lay the ground for better dialogue between companies and investors.”

Rising Star Award

Helen Price, Head of Stewardship, Brunel Pension Partnership is the first recipient of the ICGN Rising Star Award. This award is brand new for 2021 and ICGN’s first award to recognise individuals in the early stages of their career in corporate governance or stewardship who have already made a valuable contribution, and who have demonstrated the potential to be future leaders. Helen leads Brunel’s stewardship work and was commended for her efforts on diversity and inclusion as well as cybersecurity. Her work on identifying best practice has led to Brunel’s Stewardship Policy and Voting Guidelines being proclaimed as one of the most progressive globally.

Upon receiving the ICGN Rising Star Award, Helen Price said:

“It is an honour to receive this award and to know the work I am passionate about resonates with others. I feel truly privileged to work in this industry and work with likeminded individuals who seek to make an impact and positive change. I strive to live up to the high standards the network has set before me. Thank you.”

Excellence in Investment Stewardship

The FAIRR Initiative was awarded the ICGN Excellence in Stewardship Award, FAIRR has boosted investor awareness and corporate knowledge around dietary choices as key determinants of environmental sustainability and human health while encouraging protein diversification for business growth and positive climate impacts.

Jeremy Coller, Chair of the FAIRR Initiative said:

“FAIRR is delighted to be recognised by ICGN for our Sustainable Proteins engagement. The investors in FAIRR’s engagement have dramatically changed the conversation on protein and we’re now seeing visible leadership from many large food retailers and manufacturers to put more sustainable alternatives to meat protein on the supermarket shelf.”

ICGN Chair

ICGN Award candidates are nominated by ICGN Members who recommend the candidates for the impact of their efforts on corporate governance and investment stewardship practices around the world.

Announcing the awards Henry Jones, President of CalPERS and Chair of ICGN, said:

“In their different ways Mats, Santiago and Helen have all demonstrated the impact that dedicated individuals can make in improving corporate governance and stewardship for the benefit of us all; and the FAIRR Initiative is an excellent example of what can be achieved when such individuals work together. Congratulations to all of them on their well-deserved awards”