About Karl George
Karl George MBE is a thought leader, internationally established expert in governance, and a partner at RSM UK, where he is the Head of Governance and part of the ESG advisory practice. Karl brings over 30 years of expertise in governance, compliance, and strategic development to his cross-sector work with boards and senior executives, leading assignments in the private, public and voluntary spheres.
Starting his career as an accountant, Karl has made a significant contribution to the world of governance, including developing governance frameworks, conducting board effectiveness reviews and leading governance training. A Fellow of the Chartered Governance Institute, he is the creator of the tgf Governance Code (a governance framework endorsed by Sir Adrian Cadbury), The RACE Equality Code (an EDI diagnostic tool), and The Effective Board Member Programmes (well-regarded training programmes for new and experienced board members and those who aspire to board membership).
Karl holds an honorary doctorate and is a visiting professor at Birmingham City University. An established author, Karl developed and authored ‘Governance 3.0’ and the Amazon bestseller ‘The Effective Board Member’. His training programmes have been implemented globally, impacting thousands of graduates and numerous organisations in the Middle East, Caribbean, and beyond.
As an experienced chair and seasoned non-executive, Karl’s expertise in governance, alongside his accountancy, ESG and EDI experience, makes him an internationally sought-after adviser, conference speaker and board member. Karl plays a prominent role in the business community, having won many awards and featured in various power lists. He is currently a board member of the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce.
‘I am the guy who gets ‘tingly’ about corporate governance. I see the principles of good governance in all aspects of life, but more importantly, in every size and jurisdiction of business. I like to take quite complicated theories, concepts and governance codes and communicate the key principles clearly so that they are easily understood and can be used practically. I enjoy helping board members be more effective because I believe that the buck stops at the top. If we want to see successful businesses that are resilient and sustainable, we need to work with the leadership.’
Karl is married with three young adult boys. Karl and his wife are looking forward to the next season of life where they can enjoy more travel, fine dining and new experiences.
Karl’s RSM timeline:
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2022: Joined RSM as head of governance