Takeaways from discussion with Ian Bremmer on geopolitical risk.
“Every quarter.” That’s the prescription Ian Bremmer gives for a discussion of geopolitical risk on the board agenda. Bremmer, founder and president of geopolitical risk consultancy Eurasia Group, said on a recent KPMG Board Leadership Center (BLC) webcast that the best companies explicitly task a board member with real-time monitoring of geopolitical activity, especially those companies with more than 10 percent of their revenue earned outside of the United States.
Joined by KPMG BLC Senior Advisor Susan Angele, Bremmer delivered a high-level take on the current state of geopolitics and the issues on which directors might query management. “From energy security to cyber security, these risks intertwine and multiply, but they also create opportunities for global businesses,” said Angele.
Bremmer also discussed current challenges in the United Kingdom, where “underperformance is the baseline,” and “the anti-establishment wave” gripping Latin America.
Webcast survey results*
How frequently does your board actively assess geopolitical issues and their potential impact on strategy and risk?
Which geopolitical issue do you believe will have the greatest long-term impact on your company over the next 3-5 years?
The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the speakers and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of KPMG LLP.
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