The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
General Counsel / Chief Legal Officer
Transition typically takes 3-5 years of focused experience in governance within the legal function.Skills to master
- Deepen expertise in board governance, shareholder relations, and enterprise-wide risk management beyond pure legal counsel. Develop a strong understanding of non-legal compliance domains (e.g., EHS, quality).
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully advised the Board on complex governance matters.
- Led significant cross-functional compliance initiatives.
- Proven ability to influence business strategy beyond legal risk.
- 2
Chief Risk Officer (CRO)
Roughly 4-6 years of expanding scope to include compliance, ethics, and board governance.Skills to master
- Gain expertise in ethical frameworks, regulatory compliance programme design, and the specific nuances of board dynamics and investor relations. Shift from a pure risk lens to a broader governance perspective.
You're ready to move on when
- Integrated compliance risks into the ERM framework.
- Demonstrated leadership in managing enterprise-level crises.
- Strong relationships with regulatory bodies and external auditors.
- 3
Director, International Corporate Governance (L6)
This is a direct internal progression, typically 2-4 years at the Director level.Skills to master
- Transition from directing a function to shaping enterprise strategy. Develop strong investor relations skills and a deeper understanding of macro-economic and geopolitical impacts on governance.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully led a global governance function for a multi-year period.
- Demonstrated ability to influence the Board and C-Suite on strategic matters.
- Proven track record of building and developing high-performing governance teams.