NASDAQ OMX (Nasdaq:NDAQ) today announced a unique partnership with the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) to provide corporate directors and board executives with NACD's leading suite of director education and board development programs.
The cornerstone of the partnership will focus on encouraging NASDAQ OMX-listed company boards and directors to engage with NACD to reduce risk and enhance investor confidence. NASDAQ OMX and NACD will enhance NASDAQ OMX's online board portal, Directors Desk, by strategically integrating superior content and leading information to equip directors and board members with the tools necessary to improve governance, transparency and effectiveness. Additionally, the partnership will reinforce the importance of all directors to be professionally committed to recurring education.
"For NASDAQ OMX Global Corporate Solutions, and specifically Directors Desk, this alliance broadens the dynamic resources we provide to boards members, helping corporations further mitigate risk and increase shareholder value," said Bruce Aust, Executive Vice President, Corporate Client Group Management, NASDAQ OMX. "We know that informed directors are empowered directors, so we want to make high-quality director education accessible to all of our listed companies. Our alliance with NACD—the recognized leader in director education—further strengthens our commitment to helping companies improve governance and increase efficiency and transparency in the changing corporate landscape."
"At NACD, our mission is to advance exemplary board leadership by delivering the knowledge and insight that board members need to confidently navigate complex business challenges and add value to the boards on which they sit," said Ken Daly, president and CEO,NACD. "We are proud to say that many directors from NASDAQ-listed companies are already members of NACD. Through this new partnership, we will be able to provide even more directors and key executives with actionable resources and information from publicationsand online classes to conferences and Director Professionalism courses and even customized benchmarking reports to help boards evaluate themselves against their peers."
By aligning, NASDAQ OMX and NACD will provide the board community with dynamic, superior board development tools and director education resources to support their companies in following the highest standards of corporate conduct and compliance.