Global Corporate Governance Trends 2026: The Great East-West Divide

The boardroom world is splitting in two. While Asia ramps up transparency, Western markets are letting shareholder rights slip away. Jen Sisson, CEO of the International Corporate Governance Network (ICGN), warned on January 16, 2026, that we're witnessing a "split world" in corporate governance. Asian powerhouses like Japan and South Korea are pushing for reform, while the U.S. and Europe face worrying declines in investor protections.

Global Corporate Governance Trends 2026: Asia's Reform Engine

Asia's no longer the underdog in governance. Japan is leading the charge with a major code revision on the horizon. The Tokyo Stock Exchange is now mandating English disclosures to woo global capital. Even more telling, JPX CEO Hiromi Yamaji suggests the reform journey is only 20% complete, hinting at massive changes still to come.

In South Korea, President Lee Jae-myung has vowed to prioritize economic growth through market modernization. Combined with record-high shareholder activism in India, the region is becoming a magnet for investors who've grown tired of the status quo in developed markets.

The Erosion of Rights in the West

It's a different story in the U.S. and Europe. Sisson expressed deep concern over the "erosion of shareholder rights" in these traditional hubs. As companies push for more dual-class shares and lighter listing requirements to compete with private markets, the average investor is losing their voice in the boardroom.