NACD Board Recruitment Services Partners with Ascend to Foster More Diversity in the Boardroom

WASHINGTON, March 21, 2017 -- The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), the advocate for the profession of directorship, and Ascend, the largest, nonprofit Pan-Asian organization for business leaders in North America, today announced a partnership that will serve as a catalyst to increase the number of diversity directors in today’s boardrooms. 

In response to the increasing demand for diverse director candidates, Ascend, through its Pan-Asian corporate board initiative, Pinnacle, will work with NACD Board Recruitment Services to identify highly qualified candidates for boards who have engaged NACD’s recruitment services. Pinnacle was launched by Ascend to focus on Asian-American corporate directors on U.S. company boards. Pinnacle’s goal is to create a platform to network, leverage, and support Asian American corporate directors; develop candidates aspiring to board service; and provide thought leadership regarding corporate board issues.

“Increasingly, our member companies demand that diversity candidates be included in the slates that we present. In fact, more than 60 percent of the placements made by our recruitment team over the past several years have been women or minorities,” said NACD President and CEO Peter Gleason. “Our partnership with Ascend will allow us to expand our reach and offer even more opportunities for board positions to diverse corporate leaders.”

Sixty-seven percent of respondents to NACD’s most recent public company governance survey indicated their boards added at least one director in the past year. NACD and Ascend will work together to ensure that Ascend members are well positioned to be considered for future board openings.

“Many studies have demonstrated that companies gain a competitive advantage when the perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences of the directors around the table align with the company's long-term strategic goals,” said S. K. Gupta, managing director and cofounder, Ascend Pinnacle. “We are excited to partner with NACD Board Recruitment Services to advance the contributions that Pan-Asian leaders can make to the highest level of corporate leadership.”

NACD has been championing boardroom diversity for four decades. For more on NACD’s guidance on building diverse boards, including the NACD Diversity Discussion Guide for Directors, please visit the NACD Board Diversity Resource Center.

About NACD
The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) empowers more than 17,000 directors to lead with confidence in the boardroom. As the recognized authority on leading boardroom practices, NACD helps boards strengthen investor trust and public confidence by ensuring that today’s directors are well prepared for tomorrow’s challenges. World-class boards join NACD to elevate performance, gain foresight, and instill confidence. Fostering collaboration among directors, investors, and corporate governance stakeholders, NACD has been setting the standard for responsible board leadership for 40 years. To learn more about NACD, visit www.NACDonline.org. To become an NACD member, please contact us at [email protected] or 202-572-2089. If you are already a member, contact your NACD Membership Advisor at [email protected] to ensure that you are receiving the best value from your membership.

About Ascend
Ascend is the largest, nonprofit Pan-Asian membership organization for business professionals in North America. Established in 2005, Ascend’s reach includes 60,000+ senior executives, professionals, and MBA/undergraduate students involved in its 50+ chapters in the United States and Canada. As a career life cycle organization, it offers robust leadership and professional-development programs designed to cultivate Pan-Asian talent by supporting its members in reaching their career potential and by supporting its corporate partners to develop a strong, diverse, and inclusive workforce to achieve business growth. Visit http://www.ascendleadership.org for more information.

Media Contacts:

NACD
Bill Brawner 
Brawner Communications
202-329-1389
[email protected]

Ascend
Sofia Poyhonen
212-248-4888 ext. 111
[email protected]