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VW’s need for a crisis panel exposes the board’s failings. (2015)

“…companies that wish to avoid the noxious fumes of scandal need their boards to be switched on at all times”

Andrew Hill
Ft.com/management 28 September 2015
Photo: Reuters

“VW is following the blueprint that many big companies draw up to start extricating themselves from sticky situations. Set outside law firms on the investigative trail, appoint a panel, ideally headed by an eminent public figure, such as a judge or senior lawyer, and wait months for their conclusions. Meanwhile, tell regulators and policymakers you are doing all you can and deflect journalists with the excuse that you cannot possibly comment while the inquiries are under way.

……..

“…the VW scandal exposes the fact that neither the carmaker’s far from independent supervisory board, top-heavy with feuding family, union, and political interests, nor its executive committee was doing its job.

“Special committees really are like the software at the heart of the case against VW: activated to curb emissions only when facing a test. Instead, companies that wish to avoid the noxious fumes of scandal need their boards to be switched on at all times.”

Access the full article here: VW’s need for a crisis panel

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