The latest insights from the industry.

The second edition of Most Significant Votes reviews the standout shareholder rebellions and AGM flashpoints of the 2026 proxy season, with a focus on executive pay, climate strategy, governance disputes and investor activism at companies including Goldman Sachs, Warner Bros. Discovery, NatWest, IBM and L’Oréal.

The Northern Hemisphere voting season is underway, with early AGMs already sending strong signals to investors. A significant rebuke at BP has set the tone, highlighting tensions on climate strategy and governance. Across markets, votes are also drawing attention to executive pay, auditor tenure and emerging risks such as AI oversight, giving asset owners plenty to watch as the season unfolds.

UK stewardship is at a turning point. The IA's latest report identifies six barriers holding back effective investor engagement and sets out ten concrete recommendations for change. Discover what this means for your organisation and how technology can help you move from box-ticking to demonstrable impact.

As the UK Stewardship Code moves from its 2020 framework to the 2026 regime, firms face a fundamental shift toward outcome-led, long-term stewardship reporting.

Stewardship is no longer just about policies and reporting. Done well, it becomes a growth engine - building trust, confidence, and stronger client relationships.

This year’s AGM season closed with mounting investor dissent. At ANZ, frustration over scandals, executive pay and climate issues drove heavy votes against remuneration and multiple shareholder resolutions. Similar protests played out across banks, miners and tech firms, with investors challenging boards on governance, incentives and climate strategy, signalling declining tolerance for weak oversight and slow progress.