This book is not intended to be another handbook or primer on corporate governance. Although readers will find chapters, such as those by Charles Mayo and Stilpon Nestor, that describe recent developments in laws and regulations, the main purpose of the book is to describe corporate governance in practice from the viewpoints of the principal players, including the board of directors, the regulator and the investor. Contributors have focused on the benefits of good governance and a number have written about events and their own experiences that demonstrate governance in action: both positive and negative examples.

I hope that the book will appeal not only to lawyers but also to those working in listed companies. Those who are directors may identify with the views of Sir Geoffrey Owen and many of the Chairmen I interviewed who believe that boards are becoming more professional. The role of director, whether executive or non-executive, can no longer be considered simply as a promotion for a successful senior manager or a reward for doing a good job running another business. Being a director is a job in its own right that demands specific skills and individual qualities. Aspiring directors will gain an appreciation of the value of good governance for their business and should understand the importance of high-performance effective boards for corporate success. Colin Melvin and Hans-Christoph Hirt from Hermes Investment Management have written about the academic and professional studies that show that good governance leads to improved corporate performance.