The Institute of Company Secretaries of India has decided to launch an advertisement campaign to sensitise corporates and society about the changing aspirations of the profession. It wants its members to take up a larger role in the form of a Chief Governance Officer from being officials in charge of compliance in a corporate set up.

The ad campaign, to be launched from Thursday, will initially run in print media, said S.N.Ananthasubramanian, President, ICSI.

This will be followed by television campaigns, he added.

Secretary of the institute M.S. Sahoo says Company Secretaries have a larger role to play in the current liberalised environment. Company secretaries are overseeing under the compliance through the Listing Agreement (an agreement between a company and a stock exchange). The new Companies Act has mandated Secretarial audit for listed companies – a norm that increase demand for such professionals.

The ICSI, however, is looking to position its members as Chief Governance Officers, but will not approach the Ministry of Corporate Affairs for any legal backing for such a status.

The Companies Act 2013 counts Company Secretaries among Key Management Personnel such as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, and Whole-Time Director.

This can pave the way for a bigger boardroom role, instead of the current function as a compliance officer, says Ananthasubramanian.

National Convention

Corporate Affairs Minister Sachin Pilot will inaugurate the institute’s 41{+s}{+t} national convention in Chennai tomorrow. The event is expected to be attended by 1,500 delegates.

bharani.v@thehindu.co.in

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