DIRECTOR'S DOMAIN: As restrictions are eased and the delicate process of re-opening gets underway, business rules are being rewritten and boards have a powerful role to play. A good deal of guidance is on offer, but certainly top of everyone's list is health and safety. A recent survey suggests trust in companies may need to be rebuilt as employees and customers express concern that businesses will put profits before the well-being of people. ESG issues are at the forefront at companies like French yogurt maker Danone, which is rewriting its bylaws to include new protections for people and the planet. British oil company BP says it is deepening its commitment to energy transformation in the wake of the virus and its impact on oil markets. In the U.S., the government and tech companies see an opportunity to increase self-sufficiency by relocating chip manufacturing from Asia to the States. Finally, cyber insurers say they will reassess risk as companies favor long-term remote working arrangements. Read More

DIRECTOR'S DOMAIN: We hope you enjoyed the past couple of weeks of specialized content… and now back to our regularly scheduled program of scintillating board news: Shareholders are commanding a good deal of attention both in victories, such as requiring Exxon to report on the impact that climate change has on its business, and in failings, such as being unsuccessful in getting GM to move to two classes of stock or getting the Tesla board to accept annual elections. We note a trend of evolving investor interests, and our lead story highlights activist investors shifting focus beyond the board and straight to the C-suite. In addition, a Bloomberg columnist’s piece addresses hedge fund managers and other activist investors who claim to have the answers: How right are they? Thus, you may want to pay attention to our featured Boardspan Library story on how to ensure confidence in a CEO. And speaking of being active, both tennis champ Serena Williams and swimmer Michael Phelps picked up technology company board seats this week. Read on.