Boards of Directors are increasingly being faced with complex business and regulatory environments resulting in new and complicated situations. This is exacerbated for SMEs which may find themselves facing new challenges with smaller and less experienced management teams.

Setting aside access to the right skills and experience, I realised over time that the lack of challenging opinions and the absence of a sparring partner may lead to lost opportunities or even poor decision making in many areas like strategic planning, operational execution, financial management and corporate governance.

The right Independent Director can bring a whole array of benefits to a business:

1. Fresh Ideas – A new perspective can often help identify overlooked opportunities. A new Board member can bring clarity and objectivity through constructive challenge of what might be long held assumptions about what can and cannot be done and what is good for the entity
2. Skills & Experience – An ID can bring much needed specialist skills to the table, whether that is around financial management, business strategy or operations. In appointing the right ID it is necessary to understand what balance of skills is needed and find an ID who can bring that required balance
3. Accountability and Challenge – an ID with the right skills can help bring challenge to a board and in turn help bring a better balance to a board
4. Continuity Planning – A ID can help a Board or a family plan for succession or recruitment of new executive employees and the presence of the right ID can help attract the best talent by increasing confidence in the effectiveness of the board
5. Introductions and Networking – An ID can expand the networks of relationships that a business can access, opening up new opportunities

One size does not fit all. Different businesses will face different challenges and opportunities. The creation of Kioes Advisory Sàrl allows me to provide personalised and tailored advice up to formal Independent Directorship to a small portfolio of clients. This advice is designed to meet their needs in any circumstances.

I have worked with and have advised businesses ranging from small family-owned businesses to large global corporates and therefore I am well placed to help businesses identify where they can drive value from strengthening their Boards with the appointment of the right ID. I have accumulated significant experience across the broad spectrum of issues that all Boards and management teams routinely face:

• Achieving strong and robust corporate governance
• Proactive risk management and reporting
• Operational Excellence & Resilience
• Setting strategy and operational targets
• KPI setting, performance measurement and analysis
• Financial planning through robust budgeting, forecasting and reporting
• Cash and working capital management
• Understanding increasingly complex financial reporting and accounting requirements
• Selection of appropriate accounting policies and key accounting judgements
• Management of internal and external audit processes
• Compliance with local regulations and regulators
• Setting remuneration strategy
• Human Resource and Employment matters
• Overlooking taxation strategy and compliance with Luxembourg tax regulation.