Succession Plan in Place as Governance Center Director Embarks on New Opportunity

by Gary Larkin

Paul DeNicola, The Conference Board Governance Center director, is leaving to become a director of  PwC's Center for Board Governance effective Aug. 8.

"Paul has been a real asset to The Conference Board Governance Center over the past six years and he will be missed," said R. William Ide III, chair of the Advisory Group of the Governance Center. "We are delighted that he will continue to be involved in The Conference Board, interacting with us on behalf of PwC, which is a Founding Member and Sponsor of the Governance Center."

Jon Spector, The Conference Board president and CEO, lauded DeNicola's work as well.

"We're sorry to see Paul go; he's done a fine job leading the Governance Center," Spector said. "He's found a great position at a Conference Board member company and we look forward to collaborating with both Paul and with PwC in the future."

In his six years with The Conference Board DeNicola served as Governance Center manager and associate director before becoming director in 2009.

"I am grateful for the opportunities that The Conference Board has afforded me, and am confident that the Center is well positioned to continue as a governance thought leader," DeNicola said.

Ide will take over day-to-day leadership of the Governance Center. Barbara Blackford, retired general counsel of Superior Essex Inc. and former associate general counsel and assistant secretary at Monsanto Company, will provide additional day-to-day assistance to the Governance Center. Having been actively involved with the Governance Center for nearly 10 years, Ide is also of counsel to McKenna Long Aldridge LLP, co-heading its governance practice.

"Corporate directors and companies are being challenged as never before with vastly increased responsibility, unprecedented accountability, and changing expectations," Ide said. "The Conference Board Governance Center has long been a leader in helping define practices to help directors and executives meet these responsibilities. As the corporate world becomes increasingly global, we are working with our members to assess programs and research that meet these new challenges.   I look forward to engaging our new leader in realizing this vision."

Over the last few years the Governance Center has expanded its research and outreach with the introduction of the Director Notes series and the Governance Center Blog while continuing to provide leadership to the corporate governance community with a variety of tailored education programs like the Directors' Institute that helps directors and executives meet their governing responsibilities.

Just last month DeNicola was named a Millstein Center Rising Star of Corporate Governance for 2011 and he was named to the Directorship 100 list in 2009 and 2010. In his time at The Conference Board DeNicola not only led the day-to-day operation of the Center but co-authored the Handbook on Corporate Political Activity: Emerging Corporate Governance Issues, a timely review for companies evaluating the risks and rewards of various forms of political spending as the U.S. presidential elections near.

The Governance Center serves executives and directors of leading world-class companies, influential institutional investors, and professional service providers who gather to discuss the most pressing governance matters. The Center's mission is to promote optimal corporate governance practices for public companies that enhance performance, public trust, and market confidence. Through its Directors' Institute, the Governance Center is a world leader in engaging directors, chairmen, and CEOs on governance issues, offering tailored educational programs as well as numerous peer-to-peer learning groups.

Read the rest of this article on the Governance Center Blog

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