Our Services

Governance

Today, many companies face significant governance issues arising out of options-backdating; heightened scrutiny of executive compensation and board performance by the media, investors, regulators and Congress; more stringent reporting requirements under Sarbanes-Oxley; and growing pressure to be a responsible corporate citizen.  Often, these issues, and the scrutiny of them, have impeded progress toward companies’ business goals by distracting management and employees and generating opposition from investors and other key audiences.

RLM helps clients address these challenges and reverse the damage.  We assist in designing, implementing, and communicating comprehensive governance programs aimed at accelerating the restoration of trust in a company and its management.  These programs help instill confidence that a company has integrated high ethical standards into its culture and instituted governance reform.

Among its major assignments in the area of governance, RLM:

  • Helped a prominent health care company plan and communicate the departure of its CEO, the restructuring of its executive ranks, and the implementation of best-in-class governance practices
  • Worked with several companies across a wide range of industries to address the concerns of key constituencies following options-backdating investigations, and to implement new policies consistent with best governance practices

  • Made governance reform a central element of the communications strategy for an industrial corporation following the high-profile ouster of its CEO

  • Provided communications counsel on a wide range of governance issues to the senior management of a closely held media company

  • Helped a major American retailer shape and announce dramatic governance changes to address significant ongoing criticisms in the media

  • Developed and executed, for a major pharmaceutical company undergoing major changes in its leadership, a comprehensive communications strategy regarding executive compensation and retirement benefits, the board’s role in determining compensation, and the reorganization of senior management

  • Audited the corporate social responsibility activities of several companies and helped them create and communicate expanded CSR initiatives that are fully integrated into their culture and core business operations