Governance is defined as the way in which a company is controlled, through principles like the equitable treatment of shareholders, the protection of the interests of stakeholders, the ethical behaviour of the board, and the transparency and accountability of both management and the board. It is at the centre of any complex management system which enables a financial institution to function, a system which becomes even more complex when the corporation or company in question is a bank. Such institutions have huge numbers of people sharing in both risks and rewards, thereby implicating many more people in its decisions and potential losses.
A methodology which puts the relationship between risk management and governance at the centre of banking best practice has not yet been established. Risk and Governance: A Framework for Banking Organisations articulates the necessity of devising a new system of risk management which can cope with extreme conditions, examining the intrinsic limitations on governance, the role and evolution of risk management, and the strategies for best practice. Sergio’s contention is that risk management must become the key function of governance and the responsibility of the Board.
