Board Excellence is a leading provider of board evaluation, governance and board advisory services to financial services organisations, including banks, insurers, asset and wealth managers, investment firms, fintechs, regulated entities and financial services subsidiaries.
We understand the particular demands placed on financial services boards, including complex regulatory requirements, evolving risk landscapes, conduct and culture expectations, technology and operational resilience, and the need to balance commercial performance with the interests of customers, shareholders, regulators and other stakeholders. Our services are tailored to the size, structure and regulatory environment of each organisation. We work with boards to identify the factors that may be limiting their effectiveness and to strengthen board performance, governance, oversight and decision-making.
We believe that a highly effective board should do more than meet its statutory and regulatory obligations. Strong boards provide constructive challenge, effective oversight of strategy and risk, clear accountability and leadership of organisational culture, creating sustainable value and maintaining the confidence of shareholders, customers, regulators and wider stakeholders. In key emerging areas such as AI, Cyber-security and IT Governance, we provide tailored supports to boards and committees.
Our financial services board supports include:
- External Board and Governance Evaluations
- Support for Internal Board Evaluations
- Board Chair and Director Evaluations
- Board Composition, Diversity and Succession Planning
- CEO Succession Planning
- Board and Director Training
- Board and Director training : AI, Cyber-security & IT Governance
- Chair and Non-Executive Director Search
- Boardroom Mediation and Effectiveness Support
- Review and Optimisation of Board and Committee Reporting
- Strategy and Board Away-Day Facilitation
- Corporate Culture Evaluations
- General Governance and Board Advisory Support
Our approach combines proprietary research and methodologies with recognised international governance
standards and best practice. Our work reflects the principles of leading corporate governance codes and relevant
regulatory expectations, while being tailored to the specific governance, risk and oversight requirements of
financial services organisations.
Some of Our Clients
What Our Clients Say
“We recently engaged with Board Excellence to perform an external review of the performance of our Board. Under the guidance of Ros O’Shea, Board Excellence delivered a comprehensive assessment that was professional, rigorous, and fair. Universally, our Directors had affirming comments about their interviews with Ros. I found that Ros was particularly adept in bringing forward best practices that will help the performance of our Board as we move forward. The approach taken was not cookie cutter in any fashion. Board Excellence tailored our assessment to our Industry and our circumstances. I have no reservations in recommending Board Excellence to others.”
“Ros approached this engagement using a structured and collaborative style and her easy manner ensured constructive and positive engagement from the board and senior management. Her review was comprehensive and included fresh insights and perspectives on our approach. Ros’s wealth of experience coupled with her structured approach ensured the company has a well-informed set of pragmatic recommendations that can be implemented to strengthen our current corporate governance arrangements. In addition, Board Excellence advice and guidance on the implementation of those recommendation is an invaluable part of their servicing offering. The evaluation exceeded our expectations, and we would highly recommend Ros O’Shea to any company looking to improve their corporate governance framework.”
“The Irish Banking Culture Board engaged the services of Board Excellence to conduct an external Board effectiveness evaluation and found the process professional, structured, and well conducted. Martina was thorough in the application of the review, working in a collaborative fashion with all Directors, which helped get the most from the process. The report and findings were clearly presented and helpful for the Board. I would have no hesitation in recommending Martina and the Board Excellence team.
“We engaged Board Excellence (BE) to conduct an external review of our Board’s effectiveness and governance. The collaboration was highly pleasant, professional, and goal-oriented. Under the experienced leadership of Ros O’Shea, BE delivered a detailed, professional, and balanced analysis with pragmatic recommendations tailored to our company’s specific needs, while also considering the nuances of our industry. We have already begun implementing some of these recommendations and are confident that we have taken a significant step toward enhancing the overall performance of our Board. We wholeheartedly recommend BE’s services without reservation.”
“Board Excellence delivered a robust and objective assessment of the Board. Paul George and Martina Maher clearly understood the context in which the Board was operating as a result of the rapidly growing nature of the business, the level of regulatory scrutiny given the Group’s ambitious plans for further growth and the resulting pressures placed on the Board. The report was clear, to the point with some pertinent and practical recommendations which will help our governance arrangements keep place with our changing environment.”
“Paul and Steve from Board Excellence delivered the Bank’s 2026 External Board Evaluation with a high level of professionalism,
independence, and insight. Their methodology was comprehensive and well-organised, combining analysis with a pragmatic
understanding of the Bank’s strategic context. They engaged effectively with Board Members and key stakeholders, creating an
open environment that encouraged candid feedback while maintaining strict confidentiality. The final report was clear, balanced,
and constructive, highlighting both strengths and areas for development, and was supported by practical, actionable
recommendations. In particular, their ability to benchmark against best practice and peer firms added significant value. Overall, the
evaluation process was well managed, and I would highly recommend their services.”
“Ifac is Irelands farming, food and agribusiness specialist professional service Firm. We employ 475 people in more than 30 regional offices across the country. We engaged Board Excellence to help us recruit a high calibre independent non-executive director (INED) to join our Board. From the outset Kieran and Anne-Marie invested time in understanding our business and our needs. They used this knowledge to create the specification for the role and brought us a stellar group of INED candidates. The process was detailed, professional, open, and transparent. Kieran and Anne-Marie were excellent throughout. Board
Excellence did a great job for Ifac and we highly recommend them.”
“AIU selected Board Excellence to conduct an independent board effectiveness review. Ros O’Shea is an exceptional governance professional with the experience to understand the strategic and regulatory challenges in an ever changing financial services environment. The final report was excellent and her insightful suggestions have served the board well as we continue to enhance our governance and effectiveness. I would strongly recommend Ros and Board Excellence.”
“PTSB engaged Ros O’Shea of Board Excellence to perform an independent assessment of the Bank’s Culture to support the continued evolution of Culture to 2030, with a mandate to ensure our Bank’s culture supported our growth objectives and that accountability for living PTSB values was well-established. Ros’s evaluation of our cultural maturity and infrastructure was thorough, involving a review of all cultural artefacts, policies, and documents, a Leadership Team survey, and focus groups. Her practical approach, considered engagements, and extensive expertise resulted in comprehensive reports for the Board and Executive, offering clear analysis and actionable recommendations. We highly recommend Ros O’Shea and Board Excellence for similar projects.”
“Kieran delivered an excellent IT Governance training session to our Board and Executive team. The time and effort he put in beforehand to understand our business and specific circumstances was clear in the delivery of quality content which was both comprehensive yet accessible to all.”
Board Excellence is a leading provider of board evaluation, governance and board advisory services to financial services organisations, including banks, insurers, asset and wealth managers, investment firms, fintechs, regulated entities and financial services subsidiaries.
We understand the particular demands placed on financial services boards, including complex regulatory requirements, evolving risk landscapes, conduct and culture expectations, technology and operational resilience, and the need to balance commercial performance with the interests of customers, shareholders, regulators and other stakeholders. Our services are tailored to the size, structure and regulatory environment of each organisation. We work with boards to identify the factors that may be limiting their effectiveness and to strengthen board performance, governance, oversight and decision-making. In key emerging areas such as AI, Cyber-security and IT Governance, we provide tailored supports to boards and committees.
We believe that a highly effective board should do more than meet its statutory and regulatory obligations. Strong boards provide constructive challenge, effective oversight of strategy and risk, clear accountability and leadership of organisational culture, creating sustainable value and maintaining the confidence of shareholders, customers, regulators and wider stakeholders.
Our financial services board supports include:
- External Board and Governance Evaluations
- Support for Internal Board Evaluations
- Board Chair and Director Evaluations
- Board Composition, Diversity and Succession Planning
- CEO Succession Planning
- Board and Director Training
- Board and Director training : AI, Cyber-security & IT Governance
- Boardroom Mediation and Effectiveness Support
- Review and Optimisation of Board and Committee Reporting
- Strategy and Board Away-Day Facilitation
- Corporate Culture Evaluations
- General Governance and Board Advisory Support
- Board Chair mentor service
Our approach combines proprietary research and methodologies with recognised international governance
standards and best practice. Our work reflects the principles of leading corporate governance codes and relevant
regulatory expectations, while being tailored to the specific governance, risk and oversight requirements of
financial services organisations
Some of Our Clients
What Our Clients Say
“Board Excellence delivered a robust and objective assessment of the Board. Paul George and Martina Maher clearly understood the context in which the Board was operating as a result of the rapidly growing nature of the business, the level of regulatory scrutiny given the Group’s ambitious plans for further growth and the resulting pressures placed on the Board. The report was clear, to the point with some pertinent and practical recommendations which will help our governance arrangements keep place with our changing environment.”
“Paul and Steve from Board Excellence delivered the Bank’s 2026 External Board Evaluation with a high level of professionalism,
independence, and insight. Their methodology was comprehensive and well-organised, combining analysis with a pragmatic
understanding of the Bank’s strategic context. They engaged effectively with Board Members and key stakeholders, creating an
open environment that encouraged candid feedback while maintaining strict confidentiality. The final report was clear, balanced,
and constructive, highlighting both strengths and areas for development, and was supported by practical, actionable
recommendations. In particular, their ability to benchmark against best practice and peer firms added significant value. Overall, the
evaluation process was well managed, and I would highly recommend their services.”
“We engaged with Board Excellence to conduct our Board Effectiveness Review and would not hesitate to recommend their services. The review was conducted in an efficient and professional manner and within agreed timescales. The process was effective in challenging current processes and the output was useful with practical recommendations we could apply”
“Paul George and Sue Bonney recently completed a comprehensive Board Effectiveness Review for us. They have a well-established process for gathering evidence, apply sound judgement in interpreting that evidence and provided a clear and concise report with practical recommendations. Paul and Sue communicated professionally and effectively with us throughout the process and were prepared to listen and reflect on feedback and address our comments. We appreciated Paul and Sue’s experience and guidance throughout the process.”
“We found Board Excellence to be highly professional and insightful throughout our recent external Board effectiveness review. Paul George and Steve Masters took the time to understand our organisation, engaging with a broad range of stakeholders and approaching the process with a genuine curiosity. Their analysis was thorough and well-judged, drawing on multiple sources of evidence including interviews, documentation and meeting observation. The final report was clear, balanced and constructive, highlighting both strengths and areas for development in a way that was practical and actionable. Overall, the process was well-structured and added genuine value to the Board’s ongoing development. We would be very happy to recommend them to other organisations undertaking a similar review.”
“I found Paul and Sue extremely easy to work with throughout our recent Board Evaluation process. They approached the work with flexibility and curiosity and made what I felt were very insightful points. The support they provided in assessing, digesting and presenting the result was generous and their presentation to the Board very clear. They were willing to consider points of challenge and nuance as part of the editing and review process and offered continued support after the Board conversation, as we moved to establishing an action plan for the areas we could enhance. I enjoyed my conversations with them, which gave me much food for thought, and I felt the observations they brought were apt and resonant in the meeting they observed. They focused on the deeper, more dynamic, aspects alongside the usual ‘tick box’ items of procedure or paperwork which I appreciated very much.”
“NBKI recently engaged Board Excellence to conduct an external evaluation. of its Board. The process was well-structured and efficiently managed, enabling effective participation from all board members and senior executives. The approach taken was clear and methodical, ensuring that the evaluation was both comprehensive and easy to navigate. The final report delivered by Board Excellence was thoughtful and well-organised. It provided valuable insights into the Board’s current performance and governance practices, along with practical and relevant recommendations. The report demonstrated a strong understanding of corporate governance principles and reflected a tailored approach that considered the specific context and needs of NBKI. We found the input provided throughout the process to be constructive and well-informed. Through Paul George and Steve Masters, Board Excellence brought a high level of professionalism and expertise, and their support was helpful in facilitating reflection and discussion at Board level. Overall, the evaluation added value to our ongoing governance development, and we would consider Board Excellence a reliable partner for similar engagements in the future.”
“Cirencester Friendly takes Corporate Governance very seriously and we undertake a triennial external review of the effectiveness of our Board. For our most recent review process we partnered with Board Excellence to conduct an independent review. The approach they took was thorough and robust and we worked closely with Paul George and Kieran Moynihan to produce an output that was practical and proportionate. The report contained a good range of findings and recommendations that recognised our Board was already effective but can be made even more so. We saw Board Excellence’s commitment to include follow-up work over a 12-month period as a key differentiator in the market. I would be happy to recommend Board Excellence to organisations looking for an independent and objective assessment of their Board.”
Board Excellence is a leading provider of board evaluations and board/governance services to listed stock market companies, Board Excellence is a leading provider of board evaluation, governance and board advisory services to financial services organisations, including banks, insurers, asset and wealth managers, investment firms, fintechs, regulated entities and financial services subsidiaries.
We understand the particular demands placed on financial services boards, including complex regulatory requirements, evolving risk landscapes, conduct and culture expectations, technology and operational resilience, and the need to balance commercial performance with the interests of customers, shareholders, regulators and other stakeholders. Our services are tailored to the size, structure and regulatory environment of each organisation. We work with boards to identify the factors that may be limiting their effectiveness and to strengthen board performance, governance, oversight and decision-making. In key emerging areas such as AI, Cyber-security and IT Governance, we provide tailored supports to boards and committees.
We believe that a highly effective board should do more than meet its statutory and regulatory obligations. Strong boards provide constructive challenge, effective oversight of strategy and risk, clear accountability and leadership of organisational culture, creating sustainable value and maintaining the confidence of shareholders, customers, regulators and wider stakeholders.
Our financial services board supports include:
- External Board and Governance Evaluations
- Support for Internal Board Evaluations
- Board Chair and Director Evaluations
- Board Composition, Diversity and Succession Planning
- CEO Succession Planning
- Board and Director Training
- Board and Director training : AI, Cyber-security & IT Governance
- Boardroom Mediation and Effectiveness Support
- Review and Optimisation of Board and Committee Reporting
- Strategy and Board Away-Day Facilitation
- Corporate Culture Evaluations
- General Governance and Board Advisory Support
- Board Chair mentor service
Our approach combines proprietary research and methodologies with recognised international governance standards and best practice. Our work reflects the principles of leading corporate governance codes and relevant regulatory expectations, while being tailored to the specific governance, risk and oversight requirements of financial services organisations
Some of Our Clients
What Our Clients Say
“Board Excellence delivered a robust and objective assessment of the Board. Paul George and Martina Maher clearly understood the context in which the Board was operating as a result of the rapidly growing nature of the business, the level of regulatory scrutiny given the Group’s ambitious plans for further growth and the resulting pressures placed on the Board. The report was clear, to the point with some pertinent and practical recommendations which will help our governance arrangements keep place with our changing environment.”
“Paul and Steve from Board Excellence delivered the Bank’s 2026 External Board Evaluation with a high level of professionalism,
independence, and insight. Their methodology was comprehensive and well-organised, combining analysis with a pragmatic
understanding of the Bank’s strategic context. They engaged effectively with Board Members and key stakeholders, creating an
open environment that encouraged candid feedback while maintaining strict confidentiality. The final report was clear, balanced,
and constructive, highlighting both strengths and areas for development, and was supported by practical, actionable
recommendations. In particular, their ability to benchmark against best practice and peer firms added significant value. Overall, the
evaluation process was well managed, and I would highly recommend their services.”
“We engaged with Board Excellence to conduct our Board Effectiveness Review and would not hesitate to recommend their services. The review was conducted in an efficient and professional manner and within agreed timescales. The process was effective in challenging current processes and the output was useful with practical recommendations we could apply”
“Paul George and Sue Bonney recently completed a comprehensive Board Effectiveness Review for us. They have a well-established process for gathering evidence, apply sound judgement in interpreting that evidence and provided a clear and concise report with practical recommendations. Paul and Sue communicated professionally and effectively with us throughout the process and were prepared to listen and reflect on feedback and address our comments. We appreciated Paul and Sue’s experience and guidance throughout the process.”
“The Corporate Governance Review of FNB Lesotho was conducted by Mr Chaka Nkofo. In conducting the Review, Mr Nkofo exhibited a deep breadth and depth of knowledge of corporate governance. His commitment to appreciate the clients needs and how best to meet those needs was exhibited at all times. This clearly supported the position that the Review would be a true value addition to the business. I would whole heartedly recommend the Governance Review as conducted by Board Excellence. The success of the Review lay in the manner in which it was conducted. A material amount of time was dedicated to understanding the business, importantly not simply through a desktop review of documents etc but in the oneon-one interviews conducted with all role players.”
“PTSB engaged Ros O’Shea of Board Excellence to perform an independent assessment of the Bank’s Culture to support the continued evolution of Culture to 2030, with a mandate to ensure our Bank’s culture supported our growth objectives and that accountability for living PTSB values was well-established. Ros’s evaluation of our cultural maturity and infrastructure was thorough, involving a review of all cultural artefacts, policies, and documents, a Leadership Team survey, and focus groups. Her practical approach, considered engagements, and extensive expertise resulted in comprehensive reports for the Board and Executive, offering clear analysis and actionable recommendations. We highly recommend Ros O’Shea and Board Excellence for similar projects.”
“NBKI recently engaged Board Excellence to conduct an external evaluation. of its Board. The process was well-structured and efficiently managed, enabling effective participation from all board members and senior executives. The approach taken was clear and methodical, ensuring that the evaluation was both comprehensive and easy to navigate. The final report delivered by Board Excellence was thoughtful and well-organised. It provided valuable insights into the Board’s current performance and governance practices, along with practical and relevant recommendations. The report demonstrated a strong understanding of corporate governance principles and reflected a tailored approach that considered the specific context and needs of NBKI. We found the input provided throughout the process to be constructive and well-informed. Through Paul George and Steve Masters, Board Excellence brought a high level of professionalism and expertise, and their support was helpful in facilitating reflection and discussion at Board level. Overall, the evaluation added value to our ongoing governance development, and we would consider Board Excellence a reliable partner for similar engagements in the future.”
“We engaged Board Excellence (BE) to conduct an external review of our Board’s effectiveness and governance. The collaboration was highly pleasant, professional, and goal-oriented. Under the experienced leadership of Ros O’Shea, BE delivered a detailed, professional, and balanced analysis with pragmatic recommendations tailored to our company’s specific needs, while also considering the nuances of our industry. We have already begun implementing some of these recommendations and are confident that we have taken a significant step toward enhancing the overall performance of our Board. We wholeheartedly recommend BE’s services without reservation.”
