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The Times of India – O’Brien and Vasudeva: “The world is looking for different kinds of leaders”
In a recent interview with the Times of India, Egon Zehnder Chairman Damien O’Brien and CEO Rajeev Vasudeva reflected on the leadership qualities – particularly the ability to champion diversity – required for success in a rapidly globalizing world.
O’Brien noted: “Building diversity, including gender balance, is important for companies strategically”. Vasudeva added that value-based leadership is critical. “The key to attracting and retaining talent,” he said, “will be to build an organization which is personally aligned with the value system.”
The two Egon Zehnder leaders emphasized that boards, just as much as CEOs, will need to champion values and diversity – as well as overall company strategy. As average CEO tenure shortens, boards are increasingly becoming the point of continuity. “Directors will be expected to be more vested, emotionally and personally,” said O’Brien.
As an example of this trend, Vasudeva cited progressive family-run businesses which have reviewed their governance and where “boards are adding huge value”.
Full story: “Success will be about talent, diversity”, an interview with Damien O’Brien and Rajeev Vasudeva, Egon Zehnder, published in The Times of India (19 April 2014).
