About

Joining ManpowerGroup as general counsel in 2013 after a private practice career on Wall Street, and an in-house career operating both with start-up firms and a large multinational in the form of Accenture, Richard Buchband is a key component of ManpowerGroup’s senior management, serving on the company’s board. He regards this as a major career achievement and operating in this role as a major highlight: ‘Over the past five years, I have been working with the board and its committees to further professionalise our approach to governance, [and] to more effectively operate the company for the benefit of our shareholders, employees and communities. As well as enhancing outreach with our shareholders on environmental, social and governance issues and creating best-in-class disclosure procedures around the company’s governance procedures, we have succeeded in establishing a greater prominence for the company and its board in the governance community. Two of our directors were named this year to the NACD Directorship 100 list of most influential boardroom leaders, and since 2015, I have served as part of the New York Stock Exchange’s inaugural Listed Company Advisory Board’. In terms of the legal function that he leads, Buchband explains that the changes he has made to it have been largely attitudinal: ‘We have centred on a team-based approach, with collaboration as a core value. Opinions are valued, and if you have a different opinion or an alternative approach, I’m expecting you to share it. The odds are that it’s something we hadn’t considered, and considering it will make for a stronger outcome. Similarly, I have been working to develop stronger collaboration among our lawyers in different countries – for example, this fall I have organised a conference for our senior lawyers throughout Europe, for an exchange of ideas and updates’.