CULTURE, values, governance, innovation and strategy are among the topics which will be brought into focus at a new event on leadership launched by The Herald today.

The Future of Leadership Business Breakfast, held in partnership with law firm CMS, will gather a selection of experts to discuss the qualities and behaviours that make great leadership in business today – and make a radical difference to the performance of individuals and companies.
Alasdair Gardner, head of industrials and commercial banking in Scotland for Lloyds Banking Group, will deliver the keynote address. Mr Gardner will share his perspective on the challenges he has faced in a leadership role, the lessons he has learned throughout his career both in the UK and overseas, and how he has adapted his style in a constantly-shifting corporate and social landscape.

A panel of business experts will also be on hand to share their insights and expertise.

The speakers will include Jack Letson and Gillian MacLellan of CMS, Graham Hutcheon of Edrington, Nicola Pidgeon of Ernst & Young, and Dr Lesley Sawyers of GenAnalytics.

The event will take place on Tuesday November 12, from 8am to 10:30am, at the Glasgow office of CMS at 1 West Regent Street.

Alan Nelson, office managing partner at CMS, said: “What sets our high-performing clients apart is the quality of leadership that they have.
“But it is not just what leaders say or what leaders do; it is about the culture they create. Culture is key; without the right culture and governance the best strategy will fail. People buy in to a culture and they buy in to the right leaders. That strong sense of culture and identity is vital for a business to succeed in today’s ever-changing world.”

Mr Hutcheon, group operations director of Edrington, said: “I’m very pleased to be taking part in the Future of Leadership event.
“Edrington takes leadership incredibly seriously and we continually invest in our future leaders through initiatives from apprenticeships, to graduate training and a long-running annual programme that helps our people at every level develop and thrive. Central to our leadership philosophy are the Edrington values of giving, integrity, excellence and respect.”

Mr Letson, a partner in the CMS corporate team, said: “The way executives make decisions, set strategy and evaluate performance is changing in response to rapidly changing markets and the constant focus on corporate culture, governance and societal impact. CMS is delighted to be working with The Herald to deliver the Future of Leadership event. We look forward to being part of such a diverse panel to debate this challenging area.”

Ms Pidgeon, assistant director of EY, noted: “The role of culture and corporate governance has been a hot topic since the financial crisis.
“Company culture is defined by the unique blend of attributes and behaviours people experience at work that subsequently inform and influence actions and decision making. Customers, investors and regulators care about how effectively a business is run and organisational culture is seen as a key component in determining long-term value. Now is the time for businesses to ensure they have a diligent approach to corporate governance and culture – not doing so could have a significant impact on employee decision- making, behaviours, risk management and, ultimately, performance.”

For a free place, visit https://newsquestscotlandevents.com/events/future-of-leadership/