Board directors and C-suite leaders reveal a widening gap between boardroom confidence and real readiness across cyber, compliance, ESG and AI.
Despite high levels of general confidence in the boardroom, most directors admit they are not fully prepared for the specific governance risks that will define 2026, according to new research from The Corporate Governance Institute (TCGI). The study of 500 board directors and C-suite leaders reveals a stark boardroom paradox: a disconnect between perceived board effectiveness and the specific capabilities required to manage escalating cyber threats, accelerating AI adoption, intensifying ESG scrutiny and mounting regulatory complexity.
The research, conducted independently by Censuswide, surveyed 500 board directors and C-suite executives across the UK and Republic of Ireland, all working within organisations of 100 or more employees drawn from financial services, legal, healthcare, and education sectors.
Key Findings
85% of directors feel confident in their board overall, yet only 35% report high confidence in addressing specific governance and compliance issues.
86% agree their organisation must do more to address potential governance blind spots or deficiencies.
85% agree that a lack of training or professional development ranks among the most significant causes of governance failure.
80% are concentrating on improving regulatory compliance, yet only 22% identify the complex regulatory environment as a top business risk.
41% of boards currently lack a formal approach to ESG governance oversight, and 15% have no plans to implement one.
76% agree governance failures directly damage employee satisfaction.
Boards today are facing an agenda that has fundamentally changed. Cybersecurity, AI, ESG and regulatory complexity are core governance responsibilities. Our research shows that while many directors feel confident in their boards overall, that confidence does not always extend to the specific governance capabilities organisations need to stay resilient in 2026.
