Pension funds as active agents of sound corporate governance

The Financial Services Sector has always been at the forefront of spearheading robust Corporate Governance initiatives, ensuring compliance and competence beyond bare minimum standards. In many ways, the words “pension fund” and “governance” are synonymous with each other, for Pension Funds operate with due expectation and requirement of strong corporate governance standards.

Why, one may wonder, need the standard be set so high? Because Pension Funds are not only responsible for ensuring commensurate returns for their members but are also tasked with providing greater socio-economic impacts for society, holding substantial assets that have the power to transform both communities and country. Members can and must therefore hold the Funds to account when it comes to higher standards and levels of professional excellence. Ask yourself: would you trust your retirement future to be in the hands of an organisation without an impeccable reputation or appreciation of the very fundamentals of good corporate governance? I certainly hope not; nor should you ever have to ponder the question.