CP Rail shakeup a warning for cozy Canadian boardrooms

“There’s a certain coziness in Canadian corporate governance,” says Richard LeBlanc, a York University law and governance professor, reported the Toronto Star May 17. “Directors are self-interested. They don’t want step down because they like the revenue, they like the profile. They continue to hang on and there’s no stick to get them off.” Read full story.

Leblanc also discussed CP Rail governance on CBC TV’s “The Lang and O’Leary Exchange” May 17.

When should you leave the office and go home?
“Since the economic downturn, people feel even more pressure to be physically present and to look like they’re always working so they don’t seem expendable,” says Ronald Burke, a professor of organizational studies at York’s Schulich School of Business, reported Canadian Business in its May 18 issue. Read full story.

Craft brewers in, Labatt out as Honda Indy sponsors
Major brewing companies are being tighter with their marketing money these days, leaving an opening for craft breweries at the Honda Indy, says York University marketing professor Alan Middleton, reported Toronto Star  May 18. Read full story.

Sears Canada CEO shrugs off parent company’s massive unloading of stock
Sears Canada shares will be distributed as dividends to existing Sears Holdings Corp. shareholders, the biggest beneficiary being board chairman Edward Lampert. Alan Middleton, professor of marketing at York’s Schulich School of Business, says it’s not giving other shareholders a lot of value, reported the Toronto Star May 17. Read full story.