Spotlight Series #6 - Adaeze David

Adaeze David was chosen as a Governance HOT 100 ESG Progress Leader earlier this year. Head of the Board of Governance at Aviva, she has a wide range of experience from plc and subsidiary board and committee governance to shareholder services, share schemes, statutory reporting, AGM planning and beyond. She recently spoke to DMJ Co-founder and Managing Director, David Press about the governance profession, her achievements and what being a HOT 100 winner means to her.

How did you become a company secretary/governance professional?

I did a law degree at Durham and although I enjoyed the subject, I wasn’t convinced I wanted to become a barrister or solicitor. I had never heard of the company secretarial profession and was first introduced to this by my mum who was familiar with company secretaries from her background in accounting. I did some research on the profession and thought it sounded really interesting, with lots of variety and also incorporating elements of law. I decided to take the exams to become a qualified company secretary and also secured a trainee position. Growing up, I always said I wanted to be in a job I enjoyed and not endured. I can safely say becoming a company secretary was one of the best decisions I made. I particularly love the dynamism of the profession, with no two days being the same, and it also plays to my skill-set in organisation, problem-solving, innovation, and building relationships.

What has been your biggest achievement to date?

I am grateful for the opportunities I have had throughout my career to be at the cutting edge of good governance and to create legacy through innovation and leading change for good. I enjoyed establishing Aviva’s workforce advisory council which was market-leading at the time as it was before the requirement by the Corporate Governance Code. Providing a clear structure for the Board’s continued engagement with this Group was important to ensure the employee perspective was incorporated into Board discussions. The Board really values the insight from our employee group and it was great to be at the forefront of this initiative which continues to add value today. I am also proud to have been part of Aviva’s Global Inclusion Council and leading the D&I strategy for Aviva’s global Legal function. Most recently I led the launch of our Legal Inclusion Statement setting out clear values and expected behaviours, and providing a mechanism for us to hold each other to account. On a personal level, successfully juggling full time employment, an executive MBA and an energetic toddler is certainly a daily achievement!

What does winning in this category mean to you?

I am delighted to have been recognised in such a worthy category. ESG is a hugely important topic that impacts everyday life, both corporately and personally. Aviva was one of the first FTSE100 financial service companies to publicly declare a net zero ambition. I really enjoyed leading the governance project ensuring we had the right governance structures and levels of accountability to support the delivery of our ESG ambitions. Remaining at the forefront of change is important for governance professionals to ensure the advice we provide the Board is timely and accurate. I am pleased with the progress made on this issue but know that there is much more we can all do, and this is just the beginning.