How company secretaries can add value and enhance their role in 2025
In 2025, your role as a company secretary is at a turning point. No longer simply limited to record-keeping or compliance oversight, company secretaries stand at the intersection of governance, strategy, and risk management. The decisions they make, the insights they provide, and the initiatives they lead can significantly impact an organisation’s board effectiveness and resilience in an increasingly complex world.
But what does this transformation look like in practice? How do company secretaries move from being seen as an operational necessity to a trusted strategic partner? Adapting to the trends defining corporate governance in 2025 and beyond is key. In this guide, we look into these, practical frameworks for company secretaries to apply and grow in their roles, and the regulatory updates and tools to look out for in 2025.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
The evolution of the company secretary role
From compliance officer to governance leader
The role of a company secretary extends far beyond minute-taking and administrative duties. They are a governance leader, critical to the board’s effectiveness. By streamlining processes and ensuring directors are equipped to perform at their best, they can set the tone for success.
Take onboarding a new director: instead of overwhelming them with volumes of reading material, a company secretary can provide them with a tailored induction plan, highlighting governance priorities and offering clarity on their responsibilities. This personal approach empowers directors to contribute immediately.
Key ways company secretaries can enhance governance:
Automating routine board tasks like evaluations and voting to focus on strategic priorities.
Using tools like AI-powered dashboards to monitor board performance and highlight areas for improvement.
Rethinking onboarding by creating personalised experiences that equip new directors to contribute from day one.
Boards today need more than information — they need clarity. And that clarity comes from the company secretary.
Leveraging technology to mitigate risk in a world of uncertainty
Risk is no longer a box you check. It’s a constant undercurrent. Cyber threats are escalating, geopolitical tensions are shifting markets, and regulatory scrutiny is more intense than ever. A company’s board needs to see these risks coming, and company secretaries are best positioned to help them do it.
Picture a scenario where a critical board meeting is scheduled to discuss a cyber breach. As directors log in remotely, a secretary has ensured every document is securely shared through an encrypted platform. Discussions flow smoothly, with insights drawn from real-time dashboards that they have curated to highlight the most pressing issues.
How company secretaries can add value:
Replace outdated communication methods with secure messaging platforms, ensuring confidentiality at every stage.
Centralise compliance data and create a single source of truth to keep your board informed without overwhelming them with unnecessary detail.
Use AI-driven tools to surface risks and trends, enabling the board to anticipate and act, rather than react.
Streamline inefficient and outdated internal processes to reduce the costs and risks associated with human error, fragmented data flows, and internal fraud. By digitising signatory management, for example, Cygnetise provides a secure, real-time solution that significantly minimises the risk of internal fraud and saves hours of manual work. Its transparent audit trail also ensures every data change is traceable, strengthening compliance and reinforcing governance integrity.
Risk management is not only about avoiding crises. It’s about navigating them with confidence. And that confidence starts with the company secretary.
Being a voice of stakeholders, building trust through effective communication
Corporate accountability is no longer just about shareholders. Employees, customers, regulators, and the wider community all expect transparency and integrity. A company secretary is the bridge between these groups and the board, ensuring their voices are heard and their concerns addressed.
Take, for example, the UK government’s evolving standards on Modern Slavery reporting. It’s not just about ticking a box. It’s about crafting a statement that demonstrates your company’s commitment to ethical practices. By proactively engaging with stakeholders and presenting their feedback to the board, company secretaries can reinforce trust and strengthen the organisation’s reputation.
Strategies for taking the lead:
Using tools to simplify the preparation of proxy statements and ESG reports, ensuring they resonate with stakeholders while meeting regulatory standards.
Facilitating ongoing director training on emerging issues like sustainability and ethical governance.
Ensuring the board’s strategy aligns with stakeholder expectations, positioning your company as a leader in accountability.
Stakeholder trust is hard-earned and easily lost. With a company secretary's guidance, the board can safeguard it.
Staying on top of trends, learning and developing skills
The most effective company secretaries anticipate change and adapt quickly. Whether it’s preparing for regulatory reforms like the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act or navigating new governance trends, company secretaries need to be one step ahead.
They need to collaborate across functions to ensure their organisation is ready for the unexpected. Build partnerships with IT to address cybersecurity risks, with finance to streamline reporting, and with HR to enhance director onboarding. By taking a holistic approach, company secretaries can cement their role as indispensable corporate advisors.
The effectiveness of a company secretary also greatly depends on their knowledge and skills. So, engaging in ongoing education and professional development through courses, seminars and professional bodies is key.
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Appendix
A Company Secretary 2025 Regulatory Overview
To excel in 2025, staying ahead of key regulatory updates is essential. Below is an overview of critical developments affecting company secretaries this year:
Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (ECCTA)
Director identity verification: Mandatory identity checks for new directors and Persons with Significant Control (PSCs) to combat fraud and improve transparency.
Approved Corporate Service Providers (ACSPs): Companies House will permit ACSP registration, enabling these providers to handle verification services.
Companies House reform: Greater oversight and stricter requirements for company information filings, enhancing accountability.
ESG reporting obligations
Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD): Expanding non-financial disclosure requirements, particularly for medium and large businesses, with an emphasis on environmental and social governance.
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD): Continued importance of climate-related reporting across sectors.
Governance standards
Director conduct: The Institute of Directors plans to consult on a formal Code of Conduct, influencing governance practices.
Board liability: Increased focus on director accountability, especially in areas of cyber risk and sustainability oversight.
Streamlined reporting for medium-sized companies
UK company size threshold increases: Updates to size thresholds under the Companies Act 2006 to reduce the burden of reporting for medium-sized enterprises.
Global entity management
Corporate re-domiciliation in the UK: Proposals to allow seamless re-domiciling of businesses to and from the UK, increasing flexibility for global companies.
The Company Secretary Ultimate 2025 Resource Kit
To effectively enhance their roles in 2025, company secretaries can use a range of tools, resources, and networks. This resource kit includes recommendations for technological tools, key consultants and suppliers, professional bodies, and educational opportunities that are relevant to the evolving role of the company secretary.
Key technological tools
Cygnetise: A digital signatory management application that allows organisations to efficiently and securely manage authorised signatory lists (ASLs) in real time with instant data-sharing capabilities and a transparent audit trail that tracks every data change facilitating risk management and regulatory compliance.
Diligent Boards: Offers tools for board governance with features for meeting management, document storage, and collaboration.
BoardEffect: A board management platform that allows for efficient meeting scheduling, material distribution, and collaboration among board members.
Nasdaq Boardvantage: Known for its secure board communication and management capabilities.
OnBoard: A board intelligence platform that streamlines meeting preparation and provides critical insights for decision-making.
GRC Software (Governance, Risk, and Compliance): Integrates various functions into one unified system, enhancing efficiency in managing governance, risk, and compliance tasks. Key players include MetricStream, AuditBoard, and LogicGate.
ESG Reporting Tools: Platforms like CSRHub and Sustainalytics provide comprehensive analytics on ESG performance, helping to streamline the reporting process.
Key global consultants/suppliers
Ernst & Young (EY): Provides global consultancy services in governance, risk management, and compliance.
KPMG: Offers advisory services that include corporate governance and compliance strategies.
Deloitte: Known for its expertise in risk advisory and corporate governance.
PwC: Provides governance, risk, and compliance services tailored to enhance corporate frameworks.
Global Governance Group: An independent advisory and consulting firm providing expertise and assistance to all types of organisations on corporate governance.
Relevant professional bodies and communities
The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland: The leading professional body for governance professionals in the UK and Ireland.
Corporate Secretaries International Association (CSIA): A global association dedicated to promoting best practices in corporate governance.
Society for Corporate Governance: US-based organisation that supports corporate secretaries and governance professionals through education and networking.
Governance Institute of Australia: Offers resources, education, and networking for governance and risk management professionals in Australia.
Media and podcasts
Governance Intelligence: Offers insights and practical advice on trends and challenges in corporate governance.
Directors & Boards: A quarterly journal dedicated to corporate governance, board composition, and strategic decision-making for board members, governance professionals, and executives. It provides actionable insights, thought leadership, and best practices.
Boardroom Governance with Evan Epstein: Focuses on all aspects of governance, including interviews with leading practitioners and scholars.
Board Agenda: A leading digital and print magazine focusing on corporate governance, board strategy, and sustainability. Articles cover everything from board composition to governance best practices.
Courses and training
Harvard Law School Executive Education: Offers programs on corporate governance and board effectiveness.
CGI Qualifications: Provides a range of qualifications from certificates to advanced diplomas in governance.
UCLA Corporate Governance Program: A training program focusing on enhancing the skills and understanding of board members and corporate secretaries.
Coursera Courses: Online courses from accredited universities offering flexible learning about corporate governance.