Non-exec encouragement

Companies are increasingly encouraging their executive directors to take on non-executive roles on other organisations' boards, according to research published today by Monks Partnership, the remuneration advisers. The firm's Survey of Non-Executive Director Practice and Fees shows that just under 60 per cent of industrial companies with turnover greater than pounds 500m encourage the practice, while in smaller companies the proportion is just over 40 per cent.

Last year, the figures were 53 per cent and 39 per cent respectively. At the same time, the overall proportion actively discouraging directors from taking up posts on other boards dropped sharply, from 16 per cent to 7 per cent.