Book Release for Boardroom Excellence A Commonsense Perspective on Corporate Governance by Paul P. Brountas
	Title: Boardroom Excellence A Commonsense Perspective on Corporate Governance Author: Paul P. Brountas Publisher: Jossey-Bass Place and Date of Publication: California, 2004 ISBN: 0-7879-7641-5 Price: U.S. $24.00/Canada $35.99 Description: 154pgs, Hardcover Availability: Contact Jossey-Bass within the U.S. by calling 800-956-7739 or outside the U.S. at 317-572-3986 or visit: www.josseybass.com
Massive debt that is not reflected on the balance sheet, cooked books and phantom revenue, skyrocketing executive compensation...these are just a few of the business tactics practiced by many unscrupulous corporations. If companies and their directors are to regain and maintain the confidence of consumers and investors, they must put in place effective corporate governance practices. In Boardroom Excellence, author Paul Brountas, a corporate attorney with more than forty years experience, discusses the qualities and components of effective boards in today's post-Enron. Written in a concise format, the book is filled with informative practical advice for board members of private, public, and non-profit organizations. Boardroom Excellence contains an informed discussion of fundamental corporate governance issues, including the duties and responsibilities of directors and the proper interaction of the board with the CEO and management. Brountas reveals how board members can be most effective when they are independent, possess integrity, are well-informed and involved, and are proactive. Boardroom Excellence offers timely information about
Establishing the values and qualities that board members should possess
Developing an environment in the boardroom where skepticism and serious discussion are encouraged
Understanding what the CEO expects of the board and what the board expects of the CEO
Creating effective independent audit, compensation, nominating, and governance committees
Formulating guidelines for periodic evaluation of the performance and individual board members
Boardroom Excellence also includes information about recent developments such as growth and effectiveness of shareholder activism and the collateral effects of the 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley Act on private companies and nonprofit entities.
"Paul Brountas's book on corporate governance is an outstanding and welcome achievement. For those who serve as directors and those who aspire to become directors, his book provides an insightful, easy-to-read, commonsense guide to creating and maintaining excellence in America's boardrooms." - Raymond S. Troubh, recipient of the National Association Corporate Directors 2003 Director of the Year Award "Boardroom Excellence is a must-read for corporate management and directors particularly in today's business climate. It is well written, well organized, and specifically instructional. The quality of the observations and authority of the author ass importance to its value." - William Elfers, Founder, Greylock Partners "Frankly I shudder when I see an article or book written with the term 'governance' anywhere in the title or subtitle. I think that Paul Brountas has achieved three rarities: wisdom-there is a style that condemns nobody, but which politely suggests situations in which one might pay attention; literacy-short sentences, brief paragraphs, and well-defined separate chapters; but above all else-charm. This is not pompous, it is not preachy, it is not from 'on high.'" - Robert A.G. Monks, Founder of Hermes Lens Investments and Institutional Shareholder Services; Cofounder of the Corporate Library
About the Author The Author Paul P. Brountas is senior counsel at Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, an international law firm with over 1,000 lawyers in 12 countries. He has focused on the representation of public and private corporations, start-up and emerging growth companies, venture capitalists, investors and underwriters in public and private financings, stockholders and investment bankers in mergers and acquisitions, and corporate directors both as counsel to corporate boards and as outside counsel to independent directors. Brountas is a frequent lecturer and has earned a reputation as one of the nation's leading corporate lawyers. His clients have looked to him not only for legal advice but also his judgement as a business counselor and problem solver. Brountas has served as chairman of the board and board member of several nonprofit and community organizations.
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