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Directors – what are my duties?
March 3, 2022
As a director you are responsible for managing the business. You are effectively an agent, in charge of managing day to day affairs and responsible for making the strategic and operational decisions of the company.
General management duties may include:
Making decisions for the benefit of the company and its shareholders
Maintaining internal records and the register at Companies House
Monitoring the company’s financial position
Preparing and filing annual accounts and reports
Shareholders are the owners of the company and authorise the directors to manage the day to day decisions for running the company. However, there are some matters which require shareholder approval, such as:
Approving a director’s long-term service contract
Approving substantial property transactions
Amending the company’s articles of association
Authorising the allotment of shares
Disapplying shareholders’ pre-emption rights
There are 7 general duties that you must undertake in your role as a director:
To act within powers – you must act in accordance with rules set out in the company’s constitution (primarily this is the articles).
To promote the success of the company – by making decisions in good faith which are most likely to promote the success of the company.
To exercise independent judgment.
To exercise reasonable care, skill and diligence.
To avoid conflicts of interest – this may include situations where you have multiple directorships or you have personal interests such as being the majority shareholder. However, the situation may be regulated with authority from the board or the shareholders or it may even be pre-authorised in the company’s articles. You should check the articles in any event to see what rules apply to conflict situations.
Not to accept benefits from third parties if that could be regarded as likely to influence you to take (or not to take) action as a director.
To declare an interest in a proposed transaction or arrangement.
There are additional obligations for you as a director from other sources beyond the main duties. Some examples are:
a duty of confidentiality to your company meaning you must use or disclose the company’s confidential information only for the benefit of the company
ensuring that the company complies with its obligations relating to the health, safety and welfare at work of its workers, under health and safety legislation
Your decisions are usually taken during formal meetings of the board of directors (board meetings). These meetings usually follow the format according to the company’s articles of association. It is a requirement to take minutes at these meetings and it is best practice to make a written record of all decisions, particularly decisions that may significantly affect the company.
Once a decision has been approved at a board meeting, a nominated director will be tasked with overseeing and implementing it.
Your general duties are owed to the company and not individual shareholders so it is the company itself which can take action against you should a duty be breached. Decision to take action would typically be made by the board or, in an insolvency situation, a liquidator. In certain circumstances, an individual shareholder or group of shareholders can also bring a claim against a director for breach of duty on behalf of the company.
Consequences of a breach can include an injunction, damages or compensation and sometimes, in certain situations, a criminal fine.
However, if you have acted in a way that is in breach of your general duties, there are solutions that may assist with the outcome, such as:
the shareholders could ratify the breach in certain circumstances
a court could grant you relief if it considers you acted honestly and reasonably
if you have directors and officer’s insurance to cover you for any losses incurred
If you have any queries about the above or another related matter, please contact our Stephen Thompson on sthompson@darwingray.com or 07970 160166.
To speak to one of our experts today, please contact us on 02920 829 100 or by using our Contact Us form for a free initial chat to see how we can help.
