Eden aligned the event to the findings of our most recent Eden Insights report, which asked the question to over 50 industry CEO’s who collectively account for over £15bn turnover and employ over 50,000 staff:
“Are Non-Executive Directors truly driving business success?”.
We were very grateful for the honest and thought-provoking contributions of our panellists, Sarah Dean, owner and Chair of Noble Foods, Daniel Cross, Managing Director of Dyson Farming and Chris Thomas, Chair of First Milk.
Whilst the evening focussed on a number of topics, a consistent theme throughout the discussion was the critical importance of trust in the boardroom. Trust is the foundation of an effective board as it creates the environment for open, honest conversations – even on the toughest topics – and ensures that, once a decision is made, the board presents a united front. Eden’s Insights report highlighted that 1 in 6 CEO’s didn’t fully trust their NED’s, indicating a significant challenge and opportunity for improvement across the sector.
Whilst it might be tempting for a CEO to surround themselves with individuals who are known to them and are likely to toe the line, the panel highlighted that trust doesn’t mean always agreeing with each other. A couple of examples were given where previous boards had been built around historic relationships, and whilst they had delivered good results, they fostered an environment which didn’t allow for diversity of thinking and likely hampered the company’s development. Having a NED act as a constructive, critical friend enables the CEO to test ideas, avoid blind spots and drive a better outcome.
A key takeaway from Chris Thomas was his succinct advice for any NED: “Ears in and hands out.”
It’s a powerful mantra that captures the essence of effective NED leadership – providing oversight and guidance without getting too involved in the day to day running of the business.As the agri-food sector continues to navigate complexity and change, the role of the NEDs has never been more important.
At Eden Search, we’re committed to supporting leadership teams in building effective board teams that are not only fit for today’s challenges but also equipped to shape the future of our industry.
We will be sharing further insights from our Eden Insights report with Eden’s network in the coming weeks. If you would like to explore how Eden can support your leadership team development, please contact Morten Andresen, Dani Walker or David Macaulay directly.