Governance

We interact with numerous stakeholders. Their expectations, about our role and contribution to the common good, are rising. Our Board engages with many different stakeholder groups to understand and represent their views. One of our non-executive directors, Melanie Gee, took on a new role in 2019, to represent the employee voice. This programme encompasses face-to-face sessions with colleagues across the business and deep-dive surveys on particular topics.

A key part of our sustainability approach is understanding our stakeholder expectations through our materiality matrix.

More in our sustainability report 2019

Our global code of conduct describes the principles and standards that we hold ourselves to and ask all our employees to consider in every decision and action they take.

Our supplier code of conduct sets out the standards and principles we require our suppliers to follow, and that we expect them to demand from their own supply chains.

Our tax report sets out our approach to governance over tax matters, our attitude to tax risk, our attitude to tax planning and how we work with tax authorities.

Everybody in our global business is trained to understand our risks, accountabilities and expectations regarding information security and cyber security.

We work together to protect our people, our clients and customers and their assets against harm by implementing and maintaining robust and resilient layers of cyber-defence. Our approach prioritises detection and prevention of incidents, but we are also prepared to respond and recover efficiently and effectively.

We also have a data protection policy which adheres to global data protection laws including Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation.

Our Board is committed to complying with global regulation and acting in accordance with best practice principles. This commitment applies throughout our business and in all countries in which we operate.

abrdn is a strictly apolitical company.

As a global investor we engage regularly with policymakers across the jurisdictions in which we operate on issues relevant to our business, our stakeholders and wider society. This enables us to share knowledge, insights, ideas and views which can help shape policy and contribute to better outcomes. However, this engagement takes place within strong parameters:

Political donations: We do not make donations to any political parties, political campaigns, elected representatives, election candidates (including independent candidates) or their agents.

Non-financial support: In addition to our strict policy of not making donations, we do not provide non-financial support to any organisations or individuals which would compromise our apolitical status.

Public statements: We do not make public statements or offer endorsements which could be reasonably interpreted as support for any political party, campaign organisation, elected representative or candidate.

Political consultants: While we retain the services of external consultants to provide us with political analysis, intelligence and strategic advice, they do not engage with policymakers on our behalf.

Industry bodies: We work closely with a wide range of industry bodies who engage with policymakers e.g. the Investment Association (IA) and the European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA). These bodies do not have any political affiliations and are strictly non-partisan.