The Chair’s role is inherently solitary—yet solitary does not have to mean isolated.

The role of the Chair has quietly but fundamentally changed. What once was centred on process, cadence and consensus is now defined by judgement under pressure – often with incomplete information, conflicting stakeholder expectations, and very real personal accountability. The modern Chair is less a procedural leader and more the final arbiter of difficult calls, in a world that is more volatile, uncertain and unpredictable.

CHAIRS Global exists to support Chairs in exercising better judgement in an increasingly complex, exposed and isolated environment, ensuring they are well-supported, confident and well advised as essential leaders in today’s world. By aggregating the experience and knowledge of hundreds of Chairs globally, Chairs are equipped to work through and address real and often ‘live’ issues, by accessing unique intelligence and insight from peer Chairs and relevant experts, allowing them to navigate and solve problems they face.

Chairs today indicate that up to 70% of their time is now consumed by addressing ‘people’ related issues! These can range from board dynamics, succession, activist pressure, through to difficult CEO discussions and broader behaviour and cultural factors.

CHAIRS Global objective is to strengthen the judgement, confidence and effectiveness of Chairs by surrounding them with trusted peers, exclusive insight and discreet advisory support at the moments that matter most.

What CHAIRS Global provides

CHAIRS Global provides a discreet, Chair-only support platform that combines peer connection, exclusive intelligence, development, and on-demand advisory help — so Chairs can make better decisions with more confidence in a role that is increasingly high-risk and high-scrutiny.

CHAIRS Global turns the Chair position role from isolated and exposed into a well-supported, confident leadership role—through peers, intelligence, development and discreet advisory help. 

Who We Are

Based on the shared experience of hundreds of Chairs globally, the founders of CHAIRS Global are highly experienced and respected board advisors who have spent their careers assisting Chairs and Boards internationally in solving the most complex leadership and governance challenges. We operate through two closely connected, but distinct, arms — each designed to support Chairs at different moments of need -

CHAIRS Global – is the peer-to-peer leadership community for Chairs. Through a discreet, Chair-only environment, CHAIRS Global enables Chairs to test judgement, learn from peers, and access exclusive intelligence that supports better, more confident decision-making

CHAIRS Advisory – is the independent advisory arm of CHAIRS Global. It is engaged directly by Chairs and Boards, when required, on specific difficult people, leadership and governance challenges — issues that typically require judgement, discretion and hands-on bespoke solutions and tailored expert support.

The founders are senior advisers who have each lived and worked across the globe and whose combined diverse experience spans global executive leadership, board advisory, succession, governance and organisational performance. Together, they bring decades of lived experience advising Chairs at the highest levels across the world.

Stephen Langton
Stephen Langton

Advisor - CHAIRS Global

Stephen is a global board-leadership adviser with 30 years' experience guiding Chairs and CEOs across major public, private and social impact organisations. He has led top consulting practices at Heidrick & Struggles, Russell Reynolds Associates and Deloitte, founded advisory firms in Australia, and supported succession and board development for more than 30 ASX100 companies. A former British Army officer and helicopter pilot, he holds an MBA from AGSM and is a Graduate of the AICD, with a passion for polar exploration and its lessons for modern leadership.

Kok Kong Chan
Kok Kong Chan

Advisor - CHAIRS Global

Kok Kong has advised Chairs, Boards and CEOs on matters of governance and leadership, both in Australia and globally. Kok Kong co-founded Maritana Partners in 2016, and led as Senior Partner practices at Egon Zehnder, including serving as Secretary on the Global Partnership with the Chairman. He was the Chair of HammondCare, the leading dementia research and aged care organisation in Australia. Prior, Kok Kong was CEO of a healthcare company in Asia and a Corporate Finance advisor in Andersen. He holds a BCom from Melbourne University and a M.Sc from the London Business School. He is a CPA and member of the AICD.

Peter O'Brien
Peter O'Brien

CHAIRS Global

Peter is a trusted advisor to Boards, Chairs, and CEOs in corporate governance, board effectiveness, Board & CEO succession, through to culture and leadership risk mitigation. Peter spent over 30 years working and living across the globe. Peter was a corporate lawyer with Phillips Fox before joining TNT and DHL Deutsche Post. He held various global senior executive roles, including CEO of DHL's Global Supply Chain business, based in China and Singapore. Peter led Russell Reynolds as senior Partner of the Global Board and MD of Asia-Pacific. He was also the Firm’s COO, reporting to the CEO. Peter holds a BCom/LLB and LLM from Queensland University of Technology.

A trusted space for those who lead boards

Chairs are expected to exercise exceptional judgement in increasingly complex conditions — often without a trusted space to think, test and be supported. CHAIRS Global exists to support Chairs not just in knowing what good governance looks like — but in making the hardest calls well. 

For a confidential discussion please contact CHAIRS Global.

 

chairs@chairsglobal.com  +61 2 9167 7416