Directors Quarterly: Q1 2026

Many of the concerns that kept boards and business leaders up at night in 2025 will continue to loom large in 2026. Economic uncertainty, including recession, inflation, and interest rates; business model disruption/competition, and advances in AI and other technologies are viewed as the greatest threats to the execution of the company’s strategy over the next two years, according to more than 300 directors surveyed for our January webcast.

As directors help companies navigate the opportunities and challenges ahead, we highlight our annual messages for boards and their committees, which explore the issues shaping board and committee agendas—including engagement in strategy, oversight of AI and data governance, and refining risk oversight responsibilities, to name just a few.

In this edition, for audit committee members, we share recent financial reporting developments, including insights from the 2025 AICPA Conference on Current SEC and PCAOB Developments as well as updates on US tariffs and sustainability reporting.

Also this quarter, leaders from the KPMG Digital Asset practice share their views on emerging uses of digital assets and the implications for board oversight. Finally, we explore areas where private company directors can help their boards add value to the strategic planning process.