Statement on the passing of Professor Andrew Kakabadse

We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Professor Andrew Kakabadse, a globally respected academic and a pioneering figure in the governance and leadership community.

Professor Kakabadse was a valued Fellow of the Institute. His groundbreaking research, comprising more than 48 books and 270 scholarly articles, transformed the disciplines of board effectiveness, strategic leadership, and the development of top teams. He made a remarkable global impact through his consulting, research, and lecturing roles. His international reach was further exemplified by visiting professorships at Macquarie University in Australia, the Center for Creative Leadership in the United States, and Université Paris II Panthéon‑Assas in France.

At The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland, we were fortunate to benefit from his thought leadership. His work challenged convention, introduced fresh governance perspectives, and underscored the importance of responsible leadership in today’s complex world. We had the honour of working closely with Andrew and his team on two groundbreaking pieces of work about our profession: The Company Secretary: Building trust through governance in 2014 and Conflict and Tension in the Boardroom in 2017. Both of these reports not only raised the profile of the profession, but also gave us significant academic support for our campaigns about the value of the governance role in organisations of all kinds. Most recently, we collaborated with Andrew through our accreditation of Henley Business School’s MA in Board Practice and Directorship. His leadership and vision were instrumental in shaping the programme’s emphasis on board effectiveness and responsible governance.

Sara Drake, Chief Executive of the Institute, said:

“Professor Kakabadse was one of the most influential figures in our profession, a brilliant scholar, generous collaborator, and unwavering advocate for excellent governance. His contributions will resonate across our field for generations. We send our heartfelt condolences to his wife, Professor Nada Kakabadse, and to all who were inspired by his life and work.”