Governance

Leading with purpose

With over 470,000 Deloitte people worldwide, it’s crucial to have coordinated leadership teams prioritizing values to execute our strategy, serve clients, and strengthen our presence in various markets. The Deloitte organization comprises Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (Deloitte Global), member firms of Deloitte Global, and each of their related entities in more than 150 countries and territories and has separate governance and management structures in place at the Deloitte Global, member firm, and local levels.

The Global Board of Directors addresses Deloitte Global’s most important governance matters, including approval of the global strategy, annual budget and investment plan, major policies, major transactions, and the selection of the Deloitte Global CEO and Deloitte Global Chair, and oversees management. In addition, it provides oversight of incentives and compensation for, and evaluates execution of objectives by, the Deloitte Global CEO and Deloitte Global Chair. (To learn more about Deloitte’s governance specific to sustainability, visit Governance and management of sustainability impacts.)

The Global Board focuses on the long-term trajectory of the organization, exploring opportunities and threats and stress-testing our approaches to them. It is composed of 17 members drawn from across the Deloitte network, reflecting Deloitte’s broad geographic footprint. The Global Board meets regularly virtually and around the world throughout the year.

Each Global Board member brings skills and experience in core areas such as business leadership, ethics, financial management, governance, risk, sustainability, talent, technology, and transformation. This breadth of skills ensures that the Global Board is equipped to rigorously assess complex issues, challenge assumptions, and provide robust oversight and informed decision making. The Global Board undertakes an annual evaluation of skills and Global Board needs, which is considered in the appointment and reappointment of Global Board members to facilitate alignment with Deloitte’s strategic priorities. The Global Board prioritize the development of the members, with education sessions, to be at the forefront of key market issues. The Global Board has several committees to support its oversight of certain focus areas, each governed by a formal charter that aligns with priorities set by committee chairs, the Board, and the Deloitte Global Executive Committee (Executive Committee). (Visit Deloitte Global Board of Directors to learn more about the Global Board and its members and committees.)

The Deloitte Global Board Chair and Deputy Chair draw on the experience and external perspectives of the Global Independent Non-Executive Advisory Council, a body comprised of independent non-executive directors from Deloitte member firm boards, to inform their approach to global leading practices. In addition, ongoing engagement with the Deloitte Community of Chairs – a broad group representing nearly every geography in which Deloitte operates – strengthens dialogue and coordination on governance matters across the Deloitte network.

Together, these engagement mechanisms promote a collaborative environment where all viewpoints are valued and respected, resulting in more balanced, well-considered, and forward-looking decisions.

The Executive Committee, currently composed of 20 senior leaders from Deloitte Global and select Deloitte member firms, is responsible for driving Deloitte Global operations, advancing Deloitte Global strategic business priorities, and monitoring risks and impacts, as well as embedding purpose in all that we do. The Executive Committee also champions initiatives that help Deloitte make an impact that matters for Deloitte clients, our people, and other stakeholders. The Global Board and the Executive Committee work together to ensure that key strategic topics remain core to the focus of the Executive Committee.

The Deloitte Global Operating Committee (Operating Committee) provides a vital link between strategy and execution that helps Deloitte perform effectively and efficiently. The Deloitte Global Chief Operating Officer leads the Operating Committee and additional members include Chief Operating Officers of select Deloitte member firms, Global Business Chief Operating Officers, and our Deloitte Shared Service leaders.

Deloitte member firms have their own leadership and governance bodies. To foster effective and responsive management within member firms, member firm management and governance bodies include a formal management structure, including an elected chief executive officer or managing partner who is responsible for managing the member firm, and a governing body to facilitate sound governance.

Supporting boards of directors across the globe

At Deloitte, we believe in the critical importance of good corporate governance—not only for companies, but for the integrity of capital markets and ultimately for society at large. As such, we recognize the key role boards of directors play as stewards of sustainable, long-term organizational success. For nearly two decades, the Deloitte Global Boardroom Program (the Program) has brought together the knowledge and experience of Deloitte firms around the world to help address critical topics for company boards and management. Supplementing local Deloitte firm programs in 65 countries, the Program promotes dialogue between corporations and their boards and management, investors, the accounting profession, academia, and government.

The Program publishes research and thought-pieces on critical, challenging topics at the frontier of the board agenda, including resilience, generative AI, sustainability, trust, talent, and more. Recently, the Program surveyed, in total, close to 2,000 directors and executives across nearly 60 countries and territories as part of its research agenda. This includes How board and C-suite collaboration can build organizational resilience, a global survey on resilience and growth which serves as the first report in a series of publications about how boards and the C-suite are driving success for their organizations. It also includes the first and second editions of its Governance of AI: A critical imperative for today’s boards publication series.

In addition, the Program hosts a series of webinar discussions with eminent panelists—including board members, chairs, CEOs, and world leaders—to help the boards and management of global companies to stay current and challenge perceived wisdom. Recent webinars include “Resilience for growth,” “GenAI: What boards need to know,” and “The audit committee chair of the future.”

Membership in the Program is complimentary and is open to all board members and C-suite executives. Members receive information on the Program’s research and webinar series, as well as a monthly newsletter of curated insights relevant to their roles.