Priorities for tomorrow’s Audit Committee Chair
Today’s audit committees must balance enduring governance responsibilities with new, fast moving priorities. Chairs can add value by modernising committee processes, shifting from purely technical oversight toward strategic leadership, and cultivating a culture of continual learning and curiosity.
While markets continue to experience rapid, and seemingly constant waves of change, organisations are impacted by factors that span industries, geographies, and cultures. Emerging risks, advancing technologies, and evolving demands from stakeholders require audit committee chairs to remain agile as they navigate new waters and lead with intention.
To understand this evolution, nearly 50 audit committee chairs representing global companies in the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Africa were interviewed. This broad approach explores how the role is evolving across a diverse set of industries, sectors, and cultures.
What emerged from these conversations was intriguing. Across the regions interviewed, there was remarkable consistency in governance practices, an encouraging sign that companies and boards, regardless of location, share a commitment to financial oversight, risk management, and transparency. This convergence is a reason for optimism. It suggests that the foundational principles of audit committee leadership transcend borders and that organisations worldwide are united in their pursuit of good governance.
At the same time, the interviews revealed important differences. In some regions, particularly in Europe, sustainability reporting and integration have become central topics, driven by evolving regulations and stakeholder expectations. Likewise, the rapid advancement of technology, and artificial intelligence (AI) in particular, is reshaping risk oversight and committee agendas, with audit committee chairs highlighting the need to understand, govern, and disclose AI-related risks and opportunities.
These findings, originally published in the US and expanded to include perspectives from around the world, draw on the insights of audit committee chairs to provide practical guidance for navigating complexity and driving change.
