Director Videos

D&O Insurance: A Director’s Need to Know with Carl Metzger and Rob Spofford
Sample Video. Part 1 of a 3 part series.

In part one of this series, Dan Daly, the publisher, is joined by Carl Metzger and Rob Spofford to discuss Directors and Officers Insurance.

Carl is a partner in the Boston office of the international law firm Goodwin Procter where he specializes in litigation related to security law, government investigations along with crisis and risk management. Rob is the President of The Spofford Group, a retail insurance brokerage firm specializing in management liability with an expertise in D&O Insurance. They discuss the basics of D&O coverage, including:

• What is D&O and what do I need to know?
• Corporate indemnity and sleep insurance.
• Questions to ask: underwriter, limits, exclusion and definitions.
• Monetary risk vs. reputational risk.

FCPA: Ignore at Your Peril with Darren Donovan
Sample Video. Part 1 of a 2 part series.

Dan Daly, the Publisher of The Directors Letter, is joined by Darren Donovan, a Principal at KPMG  and a specialist on the FCPA. They discuss the basics of compliance, including:

• Risk assessment: Where could the bribe take place in your company?
• Policies: Are they in place, are they compliant and have they implemented?
• Responsibility: The appropriate tone starts at the top from Directors and Senior Management.
• Employee Training: What, when and is it documented.
• Response: When the SEC or DOJ calls.

The Independent Director on a Rapid Growth Board with Russ Planitzer
Part 1 of a 3 part video series.

Dan Daly, the Publisher of The Directors Letter, talks with venture capitalist, board member and CEO Russell Planitzer of Lazard Technology Partners about the challenges and responsibilities of being a director at a private, rapid growth company, including

• Small versus large company boards: fewer shareholders, more transparency, better reports.
• What are the skills that the independent, non-investor director should bring to the board?
• Are the goals and objectives of the company compatible with yours?
• Where is the company in its growth timeline?
• Critically assess the burn rate and cash on hand.
• The “Compatibility Interview,” not only with management, but the investor directors.

Below is a list of interviews we’ve conducted as part of The Directors Spotlight. These videos are available only to subscribers to The Directors Letter. To subscribe, click here.

	D&O Insurance: A Directors Need to Know with Carl Metzger of Goodwin Procter and Rob Spofford of The Spofford Group Part 1: Corporate indemnity, sleep insurance and reputational risk. Part 2: Evaluating the D & O Insurance before joining the board. Part 3: D&O for a non-profit board.
	The Independent Director with Russ Planitzer of Lazard Technology Partners Part 1: Where is the company in its growth timeline, what is its burn rate and cash-on-hand? Part 2: Change can be rapid when new skills and financing are needed. Part 3: How the independent director differs from an investment director.
	Executive Compensation with Steve Van Putten of Pearl Meyer & Partners Part 1: The 2011 Proxy Season, shareholder irritants, responsible pay practices and the rating firm. Part 2: Say on Pay, compensation incentives and the roll of the Board. Part 3: The “business judgment rule,” “duty of care” and staying IRS-compliant.
	The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act with Darren Donovan of KPMG. Part 1: Risk assessment, policies, training and response. Part 2: Testing and monitoring, talking to the SEC or DOJ and the Board’s responsibility. FCPA Compliance Program: A full-service compliance solution for your company.
	The European Economic Crisis with Sara Johnson of IHS Global Insight Part 1: Sovereign debt, the Eurozone economy and the trickle-down effect on US companies. Part 2: Credit availability, foreign exchange challenges and a country by country rundown. Part 3: Exports and revenue, the Purchasing Managers Index and if another recession is coming.
	Whistleblower Legislation Update with Stuart Cable of Goodwin Procter Part 1: Dodd/Frank, Sarbanes–Oxley and the FCPA. Part 2: Response policies and procedure and when you need a third party. Legal Deposition Video: A legal training program from our board education partner, Board Leaders.
	CEO Succession with Dayton Ogden of SpencerStuart and Russ Planitzer of Lazard Technology Partners Part 1: Internal and external candidates, using a third-party contributor, and the CEO’s role. Part 2: Implementation timeline, the company’s strategic direction and input from the board. Part 3: Review and implementation of the plan and involvement with the current CEO.