OECD’s Gurría launches drive to raise corporate governance standards

25/09/2008 - Good corporate governance is one of the keys to healthy financial markets in today’s globalised economy. Amid current market turmoil, OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría has called for a new drive to raise standards and performance in this area.

At the heart of this campaign will be moves to strengthen implementation of  the OECD Principles of Corporate Governance, first launched in 1999 and adopted by the Financial Stability Forum as one of its 12 core standards for sound financial systems on 26 March 2000.

“Rebuilding investor confidence will be vital to helping the economy get back on track,” Mr. Gurría told business leaders attending a meeting to discuss corporate governance issues. “Strengthening the rules, regulations and codes of corporate governance will be central to this. I call on member countries to work urgently with us to address major corporate governance failures. This will be a vital step to reinforcing market integrity.”

Over the coming weeks, OECD will meet with government representatives, regulators, the private sector and other stakeholders to discuss the corporate governance lessons of the financial crisis. The OECD will make a statement on its findings and recommendations  following the next meeting of the OECD Steering Group on Corporate Governance on 19 and 20 November.

The OECD Principles of Corporate Governance are designed to help governments, regulatory bodies and companies draw up and implement effective systems for the governance of publicly quoted companies. Last revised in 2004 following a series of corporate failures that had undermined investor confidence, the Principles emphasise the need for companies to be accountable to investors; advocate an effective role for shareholders in areas such as executive compensation; and urge increased transparency and disclosure to counter conflicts of interest.

For further information, journalists are invited to contact the OECD's Media Division (email: news.contact @ oecd.org) (tel: + 331 45 24 97 00). 
More information on OECD work on corporate governance is available at www.oecd.org/corporate