The Hub January, 2024, wish you a very healthy and prosperous “New Year”. The Hub is a monthly e-newsletter from Independent Directors’ Databank gives you a broad view of developments happening around Regulatory framework, Corporate world among other updates.

The featured stories in various sections cover regulatory updates, governance practices and experience sharing by Independent Directors.

The Corporate Affairs function combines at least three main roles: 1) reputation protector; 2) strategist and storyteller; 3) growth driver. They are agents of change, they embrace complexity, they work with data to support their recommendations, they create movements and create momentum. The Corporate Affairs is good at mitigating expectations of shareholders in difficult times (i.e., pollution, company financial performance, war, the energy crisis). It is also essential when developing a compelling narrative for our employee engagement during these same difficult times. It also facilitate[s] government relations and lobbying which has a direct impact on both the top and bottom line.

Setting in the Hub – January, 2024 issue highlights “Global Corporate Affairs Survey” a survey report from Oxford-GlobeScan.

Vignettes showcase extract of interview of Shir GN Bajpai, Ex-SEBI Chief titled “The 4 Pillars of Corporate Governance”.

Regulatory Worktop shares the key updates about, a) Consultation paper on amendments to SEBI regulations with respect to verification of market rumour, b) Reserve Bank of India (Financial Benchmark Administrators) Directions, 2023, c) IBBI latest guidelines Interim Resolution Professionals, Liquidators, Resolution Professionals and Bankruptcy Trustees, d) Draft Competition Commission of India (Determination of Turnover or Income) Regulations, 2023 and e) SEBI release amendments on Framework for Social Stock Exchange.

Regulators Eye focus on the key updates relating to a) NFRA flags gaps in statutory audits done by top audit firms, b) Bureaucrats being picked up for Boardrooms of India Inc, c) Banks brace for auditor shuffle in New Year as per RBI's three year tenure mandate, d) Saver/borrower and the issuer/investor models will coexist – Time to take wholistic financial sector view: Uday Kotak, and e) Reliance’s CMD underlines vision for future.

Events Expo showcases relevant national and global upcoming events, programs, workshops, conferences, etc. for participation of the members. This issue covers Enhancing Board Focus on Enterprise Risk Management | IICA| January 19, 2024 and Changing Landscape of Corporate Governance & Sustainability | IIM Bangalore | January 12-13, 2024.

Global Events, suggested are The Growing Case for Responsible Business Education | Financial Times | January 17, 2024 and Top Priorities for Chief Audit Executives in 2024 | Gartner | January 22, 2024.