Covid struggles lead Jersey-based IoD Chair to resign

Wednesday 19 August 2020

The Jersey-based Chair of one of the UK's most influential business groups is stepping down, saying it has become too difficult to find the time needed for the role during a pandemic while being resident in a "vulnerable" household.

Diversity champion Charlotte Valeur took the reins of the 30,000-strong IoD in September 2018 amid allegations of racism and sexism among its senior members.

It was hoped that the appointment of Ms Valeur - a ex-investment banker, with expertise in diversity and corporate governance - would help to refocus the IoD in the wake of this controversy.

But, little more than two years later, Ms Valeur announced that she would be resigning.

In a statement issued yesterday, she said that the role had now become more demanding than expected, with the IoD undergoing a significant restructure to deal with the impact of covid-19.

As a resident of a "vulnerable" household based in Jersey, Ms Valeur said this made it too challenging to continue as Chair.

She explained: “In recent months it has become clear that the IoD is going through a stage in its evolution where it is likely to need increasing levels of hands on involvement from its Chair, and more than was anticipated by either myself or the Council when I took on the role.

“I will find it difficult to provide this amount of time during the pandemic being resident in Jersey and in a vulnerable household. It is with regret therefore that I have decided to step aside to allow the IoD to appoint a chair with more time available.”

The Board said it had accepted her resignation "reluctantly", but thanked Ms Valeur for the "substantial contribution that she has made to the turnaround and continued success of the Institute."

Audit and Risk Committee Chair John Watson, who has over 20 years' experience working with FTSE-100 and global companies, has now been appointed Interim Chair until a permanent successor to Ms Valeur is found.