Amrop's typical engagements in this practice range from setting up boards to reviewing existing boards to recruitment of independent directors with breadth of perspective and capabilities to strengthen the board in its strategic leadership.

Across the globe, the board is becoming a strategic tool to create value and navigate business strategy through a minefield of rapid changes. Shareholders, fund managers and corporate regulators are increasingly seeking evidence of an outside view on the composition and performance of boards. More and more board members need to contribute as opposed to "being" on the board.

A good board cannot be left to chance but has to be created carefully, director by director. An effective board ensures that well qualified independent directors make appropriate judgments on company's strategic horizons and enhance its corporate standing.

Good directors are required to have intellectual vigor, integrity and independence to contribute to the board. They should be able to:

• Make an identifiable and effective contribution, rather than a passive or merely symbolic one
• Make an independent assessment of the company's strengths and weaknesses, including its management and staff
• Anticipate and assess the likely impact of external economic, technological and market developments on company's affairs and maintain appropriate relationships with government, industry and the community
• Encourage objective evaluation of broader community concerns of environmental issues, competition policies and consumer attitudes
• Provide informed but independent counsel to the chairman and other board members
• Devote the time that is necessary to perform the duties of a board director.

As people with these demanding capabilities are hard to find, a discreet search becomes necessary. Amrop, through research processes and its strong global network provides clients an exceptional reach to such individuals.

Our clients have included:

• Large Indian enterprises with global footprint
• Family owned conglomerates focused on professionalization
• Multinationals building their India business
• Indian entrepreneurial companies wishing to balance fast scale up with institutionalization of management & governance
• Not for profit bodies.

Amrop Partners themselves serve on boards and use this experience to be the right board consulting experts. Amrop India is known for thought leadership in this space. We are engaged in promoting corporate governance effectiveness through chairing this work at leading Indian Industry Chambers.