When the Truth Comes Out with Duncan Mavin and Kate Brader
Download MP3How should a board respond when its decisions and conduct come under public, regulatory or political scrutiny?
In this episode of The Boardroom Path, host Ralph Grayson speaks with Duncan Mavin and Kate Brader of FTI Consulting about uncovering uncomfortable facts and leading when they become public. Duncan draws on investigative journalism to explain why directors should challenge executive accounts, listen when journalists raise concerns and ask simple questions. Kate sets out how a short, principles-based crisis framework, regular exercises and clear boundaries between board, chair and executive can prepare an organisation for pressure. Duncan and Kate also discuss decisions made with incomplete information, recording what was known and why, and communicating with priority stakeholders.
Their examples give NEDs practical questions to raise before a crisis: when was the plan last exercised, who leads the response, and would each director stand behind the organisation's decisions?
In this episode of The Boardroom Path, host Ralph Grayson speaks with Duncan Mavin and Kate Brader of FTI Consulting about uncovering uncomfortable facts and leading when they become public. Duncan draws on investigative journalism to explain why directors should challenge executive accounts, listen when journalists raise concerns and ask simple questions. Kate sets out how a short, principles-based crisis framework, regular exercises and clear boundaries between board, chair and executive can prepare an organisation for pressure. Duncan and Kate also discuss decisions made with incomplete information, recording what was known and why, and communicating with priority stakeholders.
Their examples give NEDs practical questions to raise before a crisis: when was the plan last exercised, who leads the response, and would each director stand behind the organisation's decisions?
- (00:00) - Welcome to The Boardroom Path
- (04:17) - Greensill, Credit Suisse, Leadership and Culture
- (08:36) - How Boards Become Complacent
- (13:42) - FTI Consulting's Crisis-Response Work
- (16:37) - Principles-Based Resilience Planning
- (20:17) - Reputation Risk and Public Scrutiny
- (22:25) - The Board's Role in Crisis Exercises
- (26:12) - Questions NEDs Should Ask Before a Crisis
- (31:09) - When the Chair or CEO Faces Allegations
- (34:02) - Speed, Accuracy and Verifying Facts
- (37:58) - Centralising Communications Across Media
- (44:04) - Learning After a Crisis and Board Accountability
Duncan Mavin: Duncan Mavin is a Managing Director in FTI Consulting's Crisis & Litigation Communications team, specialising in crisis communication and crisis management, with expertise in global media relations. Before joining FTI Consulting, Duncan held senior editorial and management roles at The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg News and The Washington Post. He is a qualified chartered accountant and the author of Pyramid of Lies and Meltdown, books about Greensill Capital and Credit Suisse.
Kate Brader: Kate Brader is a Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting and leads its UK crisis communications practice. She specialises in crisis communication and crisis management, including high-profile live incidents. Her work has included responses to the NotPetya cyber-attack, discrimination issues and environmental activism. Before joining FTI Consulting, Kate developed and led Deloitte's Live Response service.
Ralph Grayson: Ralph Grayson is a Partner in the Board Practice at Sainty Hird & Partners, bringing extensive experience in board-level recruitment, assessment, and advisory services. With a deep understanding of the corporate governance landscape, Ralph specialises in guiding senior executives as they transition into impactful boardroom careers. His thoughtful approach, combined with a passion for developing effective leaders, enables him to facilitate insightful conversations that equip aspiring and newly appointed Non-Executive Directors with the tools they need to succeed. Through The Boardroom Path, Ralph leverages his extensive professional network and expertise to empower listeners on their journey into the boardroom.
Episode Insights:
- Boards should test whether recurring incidents point to a wider failure in leadership, culture or the business model, rather than treating each as an isolated event.
- Journalists and regulators can provide an external signal that management has filtered or dismissed; directors should listen and test the underlying facts.
- A short, principles-based crisis framework gives leaders room to adapt when a detailed manual cannot anticipate the situation.
- Executives lead the operational response; the chair supports, receives updates and keeps the wider board informed without pulling it into day-to-day management.
- Credible communication depends on verification, a clear record of decisions and direct contact with the stakeholders most affected.
Action Points:
- Set crisis principles before an incident: Agree how the organisation will act on truth, transparency and stakeholder needs. Identify who has authority to make decisions and communicate. Keep the principles short enough for senior leaders to use under pressure.
- Align the plan with the risk register: Review the crisis framework when the risk profile changes. Check that the scenarios include cyber, governance, misconduct and operational events. Confirm that the people responsible have practised their roles.
- Exercise the response: Schedule regular simulations for executives and the board chair. Test decision paths, communications and the handover of information, not just the written plan. Record gaps and assign follow-up actions.
- Verify, record and communicate: State what is known and what remains uncertain, and log who decided what and on which information. Correct earlier statements promptly when new facts are confirmed. Contact the stakeholders most affected through suitable channels.
- Review after the crisis: Stand down the response formally and check on the staff and advisers involved. Arrange a debrief while the decisions are still fresh. For a serious incident, consider an independent review that reports to the board.
The Boardroom Path is the essential podcast for aspiring and newly appointed Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) navigating the journey from executive leadership to the boardroom. Hosted by Ralph Grayson, partner at Sainty Hird & Partners, each episode offers insightful conversations with industry leaders, seasoned board directors, and governance experts. Our guests share practical strategies, valuable perspectives, and actionable advice on how to effectively transition into board roles, maximise your impact, and build a rewarding NED career.
Subscribe now, and take your first confident step along The Boardroom Path. Learn more about Sainty Hird & Partners at saintyhird.com.
The Boardroom Path is produced by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford, UK.
The Boardroom Path is produced by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford, UK.
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