One in six directors in SGX-listed firms is SID accredited

Singapore Institute of Directors requires the leaders to continuously develop themselves

- Colin Tan

Against a rapidly changing and increasingly complex business backdrop, Singapore-listed companies are choosing to appoint at least one director out of every six on their boards with the requisite credentials from the Singapore Institute of Directors (SID).

Data from the Singapore Exchange on Oct 1 showed that among all 618 directors on publicly-listed boards, 105 of them are accredited by the organisation, which has nearly 1,500 such directors on its registry.

These directors have to commit to continuous professional development to maintain their credentials.

The SID accreditation programme was formally launched in May. A pilot – comprising a combination of qualifications and tests – was initiated in February.

Faced with challenges such as global supply chain disruption, intense geopolitical tension and uncertain economic conditions, there are growing expectations over the evolving role of directors, said SID chairman Yeoh Oon Jin on Oct 1.

He said that the accreditation process not only establishes standards for director competencies but also encourages directors to stay relevant through continuous professional development.