2016 Director Sentiment Survey

What directors told us in 2016

The 2016 Director Sentiment Survey captured perspectives from nearly 900 directors throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, reflecting a growing emphasis on governance quality and strategic preparedness.

Key themes:

• • Economic outlook: Directors maintained cautious optimism as national economic growth was steady, but global instability and domestic regulatory changes presented ongoing concerns.
  • Board effectiveness: Approximately 65% of boards were actively evaluating their skillset and diversity, though fewer than half performed formal performance reviews.
  • Talent and succession planning: Boards increasingly identified leadership continuity and workforce development as critical, with over 60% flagging succession risk.
  • Digital and cybersecurity vigilance: Around half of directors highlighted technology-driven risk discussions, yet only a third felt their boards were fully capable of navigating digital challenges.
  • Governance resilience: Crisis planning and long-term sustainability were firmly on the agenda, with 70% of boards incorporating resilience into their strategic programming.
  • Risk and compliance awareness: Directors showed heightened focus on personal liability and regulatory oversight, driving an emphasis on comprehensive risk frameworks and governance accountability.

These insights from 2016 reveal how boards were beginning to build stronger governance foundations—prioritising board capability, talent continuity, digital preparedness, and resilient strategy in a complex environment.

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We hope you find this Director Sentiment Survey insightful. We would love to hear your thoughts. Please get in touch if you have any questions or would like to discuss the report. 

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The Director Sentiment Survey is brought to you by the Institute of Directors and ASB.