Based on input from seasoned directors, “The Global Board” from Directors & Boards identifies critical differentiators for evaluating international director candidates as compared with other candidates. Among the factors to drill down on are communication and language skills (which, as discussed in the post, can’t be discerned based on paper qualifications alone), culture and board “fit,” and availability for board meetings and calls in a time zone that works for all directors. These factors notwithstanding, in the context of increasingly global operations, broader customer and supplier reach (made possible in part by technological advances), and rising geopolitical and other international risk exposures, directors with international experience are increasingly perceived as a “must-have” for many companies.
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This post first appeared in the weekly Society Alert!