December 16, 2022 Okapi Partners’ Governance Expectations for 2023

By Alexandra Higgins, Managing Director

The immense challenges companies and their shareholders have faced in recent years are likely to remain with us in 2023. Having recently emerged from the pandemic, companies face a bleak global economic outlook, overshadowed by inflation and the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Add to that mix rising shareholder activism and shifting regulations. In short, boards and management will be tested in their abilities to both manage risks and create new opportunities.

Given this backdrop, it is worth exploring how boards can prepare for 2023 and beyond. We see two main trends boards should pay attention to for the upcoming proxy season: a likely surge in contested situations and a greater focus on ESG disclosure.