GovernanceOffenlegung

GovernanceOffenlegung refers to the practice of disclosing an organization’s governance structures, policies, and practices to stakeholders. It aims to enhance transparency, accountability, and oversight of how decisions are made, who is responsible for them, and how risks are managed. The concept is applied across corporate, public sector, and nonprofit entities and is often embedded in annual reports, governance statements, and sustainability disclosures.

The scope of governance disclosure typically covers board composition and qualifications, independence, diversity, and succession planning; the governance framework, including roles, responsibilities, and committees such as audit, risk, and remuneration; risk management and internal control systems; mechanisms for conflicts of interest and compliance; and remuneration governance aligned with performance. It may also address shareholder rights, stakeholder engagement, whistleblower policies, and governance related to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters.

Regulatory and normative contexts vary by jurisdiction but generally shape what must be disclosed. In German-speaking regions, governance disclosure is influenced by instruments such as national corporate governance codes and company laws, with similar expectations found in non-financial reporting requirements across the EU, and in other jurisdictions through codes and standards that encourage transparent governance reporting. Organizations may publish governance information in annual reports, dedicated governance sections on corporate websites, or in separate non-financial or sustainability reports.

Purpose and challenges: GovernanceOffenlegung supports accountability, comparability, and investor and stakeholder trust. Challenges include achieving standardized disclosures, avoiding greenwashing, and balancing transparency with commercially sensitive information.