IoD Members' Update
September 2020
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As Steve Jobs once said, "Everyone here has the sense that right now is one of those moments when we are influencing the future."
With many of the key metrics and forecasts for the economy painting a complex picture full of uncertainties and harsh realities, we are facing into an autumn and winter period quite unlike any other in our lifetimes.
Thankfully, there are chinks of light in these difficult times. We must see these as optimism and opportunities going hand in hand.
This month, IoD Ireland is delighted to be recommencing our Chartered Director programme, in line with government and health guidelines. We will also be running an exciting series of webinars through the autumn and winter periods, beginning this Thursday with Mark Kennedy of Mazars looking to the future with his presentation, 'Preparing for 2021 - A Make or Break Year?'. We will also continue to bring you exclusive and insightful blogs, Directors' Factsheets, Member Profiles and other original content.
All of these IoD offerings will, of course, be addressing the reality in which we find ourselves right now but looking to the future through a positive lens.
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Preparing for 2021 - A Make or Break Year?
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As part of our ongoing work to share exclusive content and insights with members, we are delighted to invite you to join our upcoming webinar entitled, 'Preparing for 2021 - A Make or Break Year?' with Mark Kennedy, Managing Partner, Mazars.
Brexit, pandemic, recession, an unprecedented rate of change in social and business practices; 2020 has been an exceptional year.
In this webinar, Mark will discuss:
- How business leaders and boards have to be agile and creative in dealing with unprecedented change.
- What's next for Irish business going forward.
- Key challenges facing Irish businesses.
- Suggestions on how best to direct your business for success in 2021.
Date: Thursday, 3rd September 2020
Presenter: Mark Kennedy, Managing Partner, Mazars
Time: 09:30 - 10:15
Webinar: This event will take place online as a webinar.
Cost: Free of charge. IoD members only.
Registration: Registration closes at 5:00pm on Wednesday, 2nd September 2020
The IoD Morning and Evening Briefings Series is kindly sponsored by Mazars.
Please note, there will be a live Q&A facility for this webinar.
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COVID-19: Considering a Virtual AGM in 2020?
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McCann FitzGerald Factsheet
September 2020
The Companies (Miscellaneous Provisions) (COVID-19) Act 2020 (the “Act”), in force from 21 August, allows entities to continue to operate in compliance with relevant existing legal requirements by temporarily permitting them to conduct annual general meetings (“AGMs”) and extraordinary general meetings (“EGMs”) wholly or partly by electronic means, provided all attendees have a reasonable opportunity to participate.
For ease of reading only, this briefing assumes that the Act is fully in effect.
Our sincere thanks to McCann FitzGerald for their ongoing assistance in producing the IoD Factsheets.
Please note: To read this members’ only content, you must be logged into the members' area of our website. If you have trouble with the below link, please login and browse to the Directors' Factsheets section.
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Deliver Results for Your Board
IoD Ireland Board Evaluation Service
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Avail of the IoD Ireland Board Evaluation Service to learn how effectively your board is executing its roles and responsibilities.
Through the lens of best practice governance standards and your organisation’s business context, IoD Ireland's experienced Board Assessors examine how effectively your board and board committees are operating.
The service is efficient , robust , and completely confidential . It has an average completion term of just six weeks. Furthermore, the entire process can be undertaken virtually.
Our team of Board Assessors include Chartered Directors and/or governance specialists - Dr Margaret Cullen, Carol Bolger CDir, Marie Collins CDir and Clare Duignan. Our Assessors have worked across sectors as diverse as telecoms, financial services, hospitality, property, healthcare, communications, construction, energy, and education.
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The IoD Blog:
Businesses Must Adjust for the ‘Never Normal’
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'There is an imperative to rethink almost every aspect of the business, but five levers in particular need to be activated to ensure long-term survival,' writes Aoife Donnelly, Managing Director, CFO & Enterprise Value, Accenture, in this thought-provoking blog which turns the spotlight on managing liquidity and enterprise value.
Previous blogs are also available on our website. If you are interested in contributing to our blog or for further information, please contact Paul O'Mahony at [email protected] or call 01 411 0010.
Please note: To read this members’ only content, you must be logged into the members' area of our website. If you have trouble with the below link, please login and browse to the articles and blogs section.
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Michael McCarthy is Vice President of Customer for Virgin Media Ireland. He has held a variety of senior leadership roles across customer experience management, technical operations, networks, supply chain and logistics. Virgin Media is Ireland’s leading connected entertainment provider offering market-leading broadband, TV, fixed and mobile phone services as well as incorporating Virgin Media Television. Michael has been a member of IoD Ireland since 2016.
What is the one characteristic that you believe every leader should possess?
Integrity - true leaders have it and it is the very core of their influence. Living the values they profess to believe is what gives them credibility and permit others to place their trust in them.
How do you think business leaders can best prepare for the future?
Plan for where you need to go and work back. Determine what capabilities are needed to deliver your strategy and get them in place early. Don’t be limited by what you have today, foster a culture of learning and development to enable transformation from within, along with recruiting new capabilities to get an external perspective.
What advice would you offer to new or aspiring directors in Ireland?
Find great leaders that motivate you and work out how you can bring what they do into your world. Don’t get caught up in your own field or industry, look outside for inspiration. Make sure that you enjoy what you do, it makes a positive difference for you and everyone around you.
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IoD -IAPI Online Seminar Webinar Recording:
Branding: Vital for Ireland's Economic Recovery
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The importance of branding and its vital role for Ireland's economic recovery was addressed in our latest online seminar, held on Thursday, 27th August. The seminar was in partnership with Institute of Advertising Practitioners in Ireland (IAPI), and in association with The Irish Times. The high profile speaker line up included:
- Paul Kelly, CEO, Fáilte Ireland
- Elaine Carey, COO, Three UK & Ireland
- Rory Hamilton, Executive Creative Director & Co Founder, Boys + Girls.
- David McRedmond, CEO, An Post
Charley Stoney, CEO, IAPI, introduced the speakers and moderated the event, including the Q&A session, and Thora Mackey, COO, IoD Ireland, welcomed the attendees to this fascinating webinar on the value of branding to the economy. The event was viewed live by 750 IoD and IAPI members and received very positive feedback from attendees. Viewing is highly recommended.
Please note: To view this members’ only content, you must be logged into the members' area of our website. If you have trouble with the below link, please login and browse to the Webcasts of IoD events section.
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Newly Qualified Chartered Directors |
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As part of this qualification, Chartered Directors may also use the designation CDir after their name.
The Chartered Director Programme is a unique qualification for directors and strategic business leaders combining learning and professional experience. This sought-after programme has been running in Ireland since September 2008 and is delivered exclusively by IoD Ireland.
The Chartered Director Programme has two commencement points in each calendar year, January and September. This latest list published by IoD Ireland is mainly comprised of directors who have obtained their Chartered Director accreditation in recent months.
IoD Ireland offers its congratulations to all of our newly qualified CDirs.
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Beyond COVID-19:
Leading with Purpose Through the Crisis
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In this article, written exclusively for IoD Ireland, Gillian Horan, CEO of The Pudding, offers the insight that, 'Communicating a strong purpose and living that purpose through your values and actions as a brand, translates to revenue and profitable growth.'
Gillian also adds: 'To succeed, it is absolutely essential that brands are proactively and purposefully evolving to our new post-COVID environment.'
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Policy and Announcements Hub |
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Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS)
The Financial Provisions (COVID-19) (2) Act 2020 was signed into law on Saturday 1 August 2020. One of its provisions includes the introduction of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), which will replace the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme (TWSS) from 1st September 2020. It is expected to continue until 31 March 2021.
Temporary reduction in 23% VAT rate takes effect
The standard rate of VAT will be decreased from 23% to 21% for the period 1st September 2020 to 28th February 2021. The standard rate applies to some 53% of activity, including the supply of cars, petrol, diesel, alcohol, tobacco, electrical equipment and adult clothes and footwear. These and other measures were announced in the Government's Stimulus Plan.
Government supports for COVID-19 impacted businesses
There is a wide range of supports available to help businesses impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. There are financial supports, training and guidance to help your business mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and return to work safely. These supports were updated on 21st August and the information is also available to download in pdf format.
Public consultation on cross-border conversions, mergers and divisions
The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation is seeking views of interested parties on the transposition of Directive (EU) 2019/2121. This Directive seeks to meet the objective of an internal market without internal borders for companies, and to reconcile this with the objective of social protection. Additional rules provide for rights to information and participation for employees and protection for members and creditors. The consultation will remain open until 14th October 2020.
Brexit: Bespoke customs and trade qualification launched
A bespoke customs and trade qualification, specifically designed for those working with businesses that need to navigate Brexit, has been developed by Chartered Accountants Ireland. It has designed a certificate course - in line with the EU Customs Competency Framework - to teach candidates various aspects of customs law, regulation and general challenges resulting from Brexit. It begins online on 7th October.
Charities Governance Code training
The Charities Regulator is running free online training for charity trustees. The half-day training will take place over the autumn/winter 2020 and is designed to support charities to apply the six core principles and meet the 32 core standards contained in the Charities Governance Code. Demand for the course is high and if you do not manage to register for the trainings currently listed, please check the Charities Regulator website for future events.
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IoD and Members in the News |
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The Echo (Cork): What’s on TV: Open for Business – remote working (print edition)
The Avondhu (Munster): Passage of bill to resolve ‘Catch-22’ situation on AGMs welcomed (print edition)
The Echo (Dublin): Many firms ‘battling’ to keep the show on the road (print edition)
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IoD Member Benefits
The Business Post Digital Subscription Offer
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IoD Ireland is delighted to introduce our latest member benefit for a limited time only, a discounted rate for the Business Post digital subscription.
The Business Post is a trusted and iconic Irish media brand. With a strong print and digital presence, it is the only Irish-owned Sunday newspaper in the market and has a well-established reputation for independent, innovative and quality journalism.
The market leader for financial, political and economic news, it continues to be an authoritative and respected voice in national life with an emphasis on straight and unbiased reporting, rigorous analysis and forthright opinions.
What is the IoD Ireland member benefit?
IoD members can subscribe to the digital edition of Business Post for €90 + VAT (9%) for 12 months. This is reduced from the current special offer of €149 for 12 months.
Each digital subscription will include:
· Full access to the Business Post website with daily news updates
· Access to the Business Post e-reader
· Access to daily newsletters from Monday-Sunday
· Access to the archive
· Access is also available on three different devices.
Benefit availability
This offer is open for a limited period to IoD members until 30th September 2020.
For more information on the above offer, please visit the IoD website.
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A Wealth of Exclusive, Original Content Available Now in the Exclusive Members’ Area of the IoD Website
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IoD Ireland's exclusive Members' Area hosts a range of timely expertise, resource documents and newly commissioned content.
The area contains helpful resource documents from Mazars, McCann FitzGerald, Grant Thornton, Mason Hayes & Curran, Duff & Phelps, Hayes Solicitors, and more.
The hub also contains exclusive blogs by Bobby McDonagh, Former Irish Ambassador to the EU, UK, and Italy, and Executive Coach; Niall Gibbons, CEO, Tourism Ireland; Tony Smurfit, CEO, Smurfit Kappa; Marian Finnegan, Managing Director, Residential and Advisory, Sherry FitzGerald; Colm O'Reilly, CEO, Business Post; Jim Power, Economist and Media Commentator; Joanne McEnteggart, Managing Director, Ireland, IQ-EQ; Siobhan Byrne Learat, Founder and CEO, Adams & Butler; Conor Brophy, Director, Teneo; Martina Byrne, CEO, Public Relations Institute of Ireland; Alan Holmes, INED and Executive Director, Websure; Alan Coleman, CEO, Wolfgang Digital; Nick Ashmore, Chief Executive, Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI); Áine Kerr, Host of RTÉ’s Reignite and COO of Kinzen; Simon Keogh, CEO, Rugby Players Ireland; Feargal Purcell, Head of Public Affairs, Edelman; and David Fitzsimons, Former Founder and Group CEO, Retail Excellence.
Please note: To view this members’ only content, you must be logged into the members' area of our website. If you have trouble with the below link, please login.
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Workplaces
On Tuesday, 18th August, the Government implemented a number of measures in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19. Of particular note was the measure affecting workplaces: 'Unless it is absolutely essential for an employee to attend in person, they should work from home.' In addition, the Government has updated its overview of public health measures in place at the moment.
Schools
The Government has been prioritising the return of students to school for the academic year. You can now read some of the topics being raised on the Back to School Helpline which has information for students and their families. There is also a series of videos for the different student age groups.
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Follow our company page on LinkedIn for the latest updates. |
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Follow our latest updates at @IoDIreland and #IoDevents.
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