Ditch the club rules

Executive greed is back again – whether we’re talking about the enormous sums awarded to business leaders at companies such as Marks and Spencer and ITV, or the large “golden goodbye” payments made to some council chief executives.

Despite our recent economic difficulties, many private-sector boards, and even some in the public sector, still seem as insular and self-regarding as ever. The club rules are clear – what matters is enriching yourself and those like you. Forget ethics and values. And the long-term health of the organisation is secondary.