2019 Director Sentiment Survey

What directors told us in 2019

The 2019 Director Sentiment Survey gathered views from 955 directors across Aotearoa New Zealand, marking the sixth annual iteration of this governance pulse‑check conducted in partnership with ASB. Despite ongoing economic headwinds, directors remained broadly optimistic about the organisations they oversee, even as wider business confidence reached record lows.

Key trends included:

• • Economic outlook: 55% of directors expected the national economy to weaken over the next year, the highest level of pessimism recorded since the survey began; yet 47% still anticipated improvement in their organisation’s performance.
  • Board effectiveness: 77% were discussing how to enhance board effectiveness, and 71% focused on board composition and renewal. Fewer than half reported conducting formal board evaluations.
  • Capability and risk: Only half of directors felt their board had the right capabilities to manage increasing complexity and risk.
  • Climate & culture oversight: Climate change emerged as a rising concern—with 35% of boards proactively engaging on the issue—and 77% regularly considered organisational culture.
  • Liability awareness: 47% said growing director responsibilities and liability had made them more cautious in decision-making.

These insights offer a benchmark for boardrooms aiming to strengthen governance practices—from enhancing board effectiveness and risk capability to addressing culture, climate, and liability considerations.

Watch the webcast below

Hear IoD and ASB experts discuss the 2019 findings:

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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.