School of Administrative Studies
school-of-administrative-studies
Leblanc
Richard
rleblanc
false
yes
Richard Leblanc
School of Administrative Studies
school-of-administrative-studies
Professor
Corporate Governance, Law & Ethics
Graduate Program Director, MFAc Program
Office: Atkinson College, 202A
Phone: 416-736-2100 Ext: 33744
Email: rleblanc@yorku.ca
Primary website: Dr Leblanc's York University website
Media Requests Welcome
Dr. Leblanc is a leading expert on corporate governance and accountability. He is an award-winning teacher and researcher, lawyer, public speaker, consultant, and specialist on boards of directors. He was awarded Fellow of the Institute of Certified Management Consultants of Ontario, and Academic Fellow of the International Council of Management Consulting Institutes; has taught corporate governance at Harvard University; and is a member of Canada’s Who’s Who.
He brings to business and professional audiences a depth of information from his extensive research and work with over 250 organizations and boards, and training and development of over 1,000 directors and managers. He is engaging, dynamic, and personable.
Dr. Leblanc is Editor of “The Handbook of Board Governance: A Comprehensive Guide for Public, Private, and Not-for-Profit Board Members,” 3rd Ed. (Wiley, March 2024). His first edition has sold 7,000 copies worldwide and the seminal “Inside The Boardroom” has sold over 6,500 copies. Dr. Leblanc’s work has been described by various faculty at Harvard, Yale, London Business School and elsewhere as “great & much needed,” “wonderful and pragmatic,” “thorough” and “nothing short of remarkable,” as well as by Fortune 500, NYSE, FTSE and other company leaders as “leading edge,” “ground-breaking,” “valuable guidance,” “indispensable,” “compelling” and “exceptional.”
Dr. Leblanc has authored over 200 publications and reports, delivered over 600 invited speeches, and sat for over 700 media appearances.
He possesses an extensive and diversified professional network. He is the founder of Boardexpert.com Inc and the LinkedIn Group Boards and Advisors, with over 30,000 members globally. He has over 10,000 connections on LinkedIn, and his regular newsletter is accessible to 40,000 directors and other individuals.
Dr. Leblanc’s insight has guided leaders of organizations through his teaching, writing, and direct consultation to government regulators, and national and multinational corporations. He has been an external advisor or expert witness to ASX, LSE, Nasdaq, NYSE and TSX boards of directors, including boards that have won national awards and peer endorsement for their governance practices. His work, directly or indirectly, has impacted companies throughout the world, including those that have used Dr. Leblanc’s methodology to strengthen their governance effectiveness and accountability practices.
Dr. Leblanc is frequently consulted by stakeholders – such as companies, investors, associations, partnerships, not-for-profit organizations, Crown organizations, the media and regulators – for the latest developments and trends, and customizes his speaking engagements and consultations to suit all types of audiences. He is the founder and principal of Boardexpert.com, an advisory firm providing customized governance transformation.
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Degrees
PhD, Schulich/York UniversityJD, University of Detroit Mercy
LLM, Osgoode/York University
LLB, University of Windsor
MBA, University of Toronto
Professional Leadership
Dr. Leblanc is a dynamic speaker who has been called upon to provide his expertise in governance, law and ethics across all sectors and industries.
Dr. Leblanc’s number of lifetime public appearances and invited talks is six hundred and sixty-seven (667).
Community Contributions
Dr. Leblanc is an expert in governance, law and ethics, and is listed under York University's Experts Guide. He is regularly interviewed in all types of media, and has appeared on television, on radio, in print, and in digital format.
Dr. Leblanc’s number of lifetime media appearances are seven hundred and twenty-eight (728).
Research Interests
Business
, Policy, Corporate Governance (all facets), Legal Environment of Business, Business Ethics,
Governance, Law & Ethics
- Canadian Who’s Who, 2010. - 2010
- “Theory and Practice Award,” 2006, School of Administrative Studies (“SAS”), Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies, York University, recognizing a significant contribution by an SAS faculty member on the academic and practical significance of one piece of work and the extent to which it helps to bridge management theory and practice, for Leblanc, Richard, and Gillies, James, Inside the Boardroom: How Boards Really Work and the Coming Revolution in Corporate Governance (Toronto: Wiley, 2005). 2006 - 2006
- First Annual Emerald Publishing / European Foundation for Management Development Outstanding Doctoral Research Award, “Highly Commended” (Runner up), Management and Governance Category, June 2005. - 2005
- “Top 40 Under 40”™ for Canada, May 3, 2005. Winner of the “Top 40 Under 40 Award”™ in 2005, recognized as one of 40 people under 40 years of age chosen from across Canada based on accomplishments indicating vision, leadership, innovation and achievement. - 2005
- Udayan Rege Best Dissertation Award, Administrative Sciences Association of Canada, June 6, 2004. - 2004
- York University Teaching Award, First Place Winner, inaugural Seymour Schulich BBA Award for Teaching Excellence, York University, as selected by students, 1998. - 1998
- Diligent Modern Governance 100 - 2021
- Fellow Certified Management Consultant - 2020
- Academic Fellow - CMC Global - 2021
- Joyce Borden-Reed Distinguished Contribution Award - 2017
- School of Administrative Studies Recognition for Excellence in Research - 2022
Books
Publication
Year
Leblanc, Richard, ed., The Handbook of Board Governance: A Comprehensive Guide for Public, Private, and Not for Profit Board Members, 3rd ed., San Francisco: Wiley (March 2024).
2024
Leblanc, Richard, ed., The Handbook of Board Governance: A Comprehensive Guide for Public, Private, and Not for Profit Board Members, 2nd ed., San Francisco: Wiley (2020).
2020
Leblanc, Richard, ed., The Handbook of Board Governance: A Comprehensive Guide for Public, Private, and Not for Profit Board Members (San Francisco, CA: John Wiley, 2016).
2016
Leblanc, Richard, and Gillies, James, Inside the Boardroom: How Boards Really Work and the Coming Revolution in Corporate Governance (Toronto: Wiley, 2005); and translated into Russian: Inside the Boardroom (Moscow: Wiley, 2006). www.amazon.ca/boardroom.
2005
Book Chapters
Publication
Year
Leblanc, Richard “Getting the Right Directors on Your Board,” in Conger, Jay, ed., Boardroom Realities: Building Leaders Across Your Board (London: Josey-Bass, March 2009).
2009
Burke, Ron, and Leblanc, Richard, “Women on Corporate Boards: The Canadian Perspective,” in Burke, Ron, Singh, Val, Bilimoria, Diane, and Huse, Morten, Women on Corporate Boards of Directors: Research and Practice (Cheltenham, Glos: Edward Elgar, forthcoming, January 2009).
2009
Leblanc, Richard “Developing Effective Corporate Governance,” in Wesson, Thomas, ed., The New World Economic Order (Toronto: Captus Press, 2007), 260-274. Adapted from the Annual Queen’s Business Law Symposium conference proceedings, infra. See http://www.captus.com/Information/catalogue/book.asp?Book+Number=935 for more information.
2007
Leblanc, Richard, “Assessing the Effectiveness of Boards of Directors and Individual Directors,” in Ali, Paul U., and Gregoriou, Greg N., eds., International Corporate Governance After Sarbanes-Oxley (Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2006), 485-524. Adapted from Leblanc, 20 Questions Directors Should Ask About Assessments, infra.
2006
Journal Articles
Publication
Year
Please see full and most recent publications here: http://www.yorku.ca/rleblanc/html/spc.html
Leblanc, Richard, “10 Ways to Prepare for Disruption,” Board Agenda (10 June 2024).
2024
Leblanc, Richard, “The Establishment, Composition, and Functioning of a Special Committee of a Board of Directors,” International In-house Counsel Journal Vol. 17, No. 67, Spring 2024, 1.
2024
Leblanc, Richard, “Consulting Advice on Investigations into Possible CEO Misconduct,” Management Consulting Journal (Volume 6.2, June, 2023).
2023
Leblanc, Richard, “What I would like to see happen in 2023 on North American Boards,” Board Agenda (January, 2023).
2023
Leblanc, Richard, “Board Priorities 2022: A Checklist for Directors,” Board Agenda (January 12, 2022). Click here for the article.
2022
Leblanc, Richard, “Governance for Management Consultants,” Management Consulting Journal (Volume 5, January, 2022). Click here for the article.
2022
Leblanc, Richard, “Serving on a Non-Profit Board: Effective Governance - Q&A With Dr Richard Leblanc,” Wiley - Society Leaders (February 2, 2022).
2022
Leblanc, Richard, “Trends and Issues Boards and Board Committees Must Talk About Today,” Credit Union Management - Governance (February 2, 2022).
2022
Leblanc, Richard, “20 Questions Directors of Not-For-Profit Organizations Should Ask about Recruiting, Developing and Renewing Directors” (Toronto: Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, 2019).
2019
Leblanc, Richard, “Eyes and Ears Wide Open” AB International (March, 2018). See
2018
Leblanc, Richard, “Overseeing Culture and the Employee Voice on Boards Under the Proposed UK Code Revisions” Hawkamah Journal (Issue 11, pages 4-6, 2018).
2018
Leblanc, Richard, “Why Governance Evaluations Fail,” The Corporate Board (September / October 2015), pp. 6-10.
2015
Leblanc, Richard, “Corporate Governance Trends, Pressures, and Responses,” Stewardship Review: Insights for the Boardroom Summer 2015, Conference Board of Canada (Toronto: 2015). Click here for the article.
2015
Leblanc, Richard, “What a Board Expects from Management and What Management Expects from A Board,” Boards, Ontario Hospital Association (Toronto: February, 2013), at 9-11.
2013
Leblanc, Richard, “Director removal: a five-point plan” Corporate Governance Quarterly, ICSA Chartered Secretaries Canada (Toronto: Winter, 2012) 4-5. Reproduced with permission from Listed: The Magazine for Canadian Listed Companies, below.
2013
Leblanc, Richard, “Forty Proposals to Strengthen: the Public Company Board of Director’s Role in Value Creation; Management Accountability to the Board; and Board Accountability to Shareholders," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance (2013) 1-16. See article here.
2013
Leblanc, Richard, Special Editor, “Editorial: Enhancing the effectiveness of the 21st century board of directors,’” International Journal of Disclosure and Governance (2013) 10:2, 93-97.
2013
Leblanc, Richard, “Aligning Pay to Value Creation and Performance: 12 compensation opportunities that boards and committees should consider,” ICD Director, Institute of Corporate Directors (Toronto: forthcoming, 2012).
2012
Leblanc, Richard, et al., “General Commentary on European Union Corporate Governance Proposals,’” International Journal of Disclosure and Governance (October 2011) 9:1, 1-35.
2011
Leblanc, Richard “The Walker Review Proposes ‘The Toughest Governance Regime in the World,’” International Journal of Disclosure and Governance (2010) 7:1, 20-27. Please see here. Adapted and modified from “The Walker Review in the UK Proposes Tough New Regulatory Requirements”, supra. This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in International Journal of Disclosure and Governance. The definitive publisher-authenticated version International Journal of Disclosure and Governance (2010) 7:1, 20-27 is available online: http://www.palgrave-journals.com/jdg/index.html
2010
Leblanc, Richard, and Schwartz, Mark, “Effective Boards of Directors: An Examination of Director Behavioural-Types,” Corporate Ownership & Control (Winter 2008) 5:2, 154-167.
2008
Leblanc, Richard “Recruitment, training and assessment (and removal) of directors post SOX,” International Journal of Disclosure and Governance (February 2008) 5:1 at 8-14.
2008
Leblanc, Richard, “Risk Management Oversight: Is Your Board at Risk?” Directors Monthly, National Association of Corporate Directors, (Washington, D.C.: June 2008), 17-18. Reprinted within program “The Board’s Role in Risk Assessment, Mitigation and Disclosure,” American Bar Association (ABA) Corporate Governance Committee and Corporate Compliance and Corporate Counsel Committee, New York City, August 9, 2008.
2008
Leblanc, Richard, “Corporate Governance and Board Effectiveness 2.0,” International Journal of Business Governance and Ethics (2007) 3:2, 106-112.
2007
Bury, Sophie, and Leblanc, Richard, “Corporate Governance Research on the Free Web: A Selected Annotated Guide,” Reference Services Review (2007) 35:3, 497-514.
2007
Leblanc, Richard “Effective Risk Oversight by Boards in 2007: What are the Key Areas,” Corporate Governance: International Journal for Enhancing Board Performance (2007) 7:1, 18-20.
2007
Leblanc, Richard “External Disclosure of Leading Governance Assessment Practices: What Shareholders Should be Asking and Companies Should be Disclosing,” International Journal of Disclosure and Governance (August 2007), 167-180.
2007
Smith, Mark, and Leblanc, Richard, “Nose In, Fingers Out: The Role of Outside Directors in Assessing Insurance Company Strategy” Canadian Insurance (Toronto: March 2007), 36-41.
2007
Leblanc, Richard, “Ten Ways to Enhance the Effectiveness of the Audit Committee,” Ivey Business Journal [Online] (September-October 2007).
2007
Leblanc, Richard, and Schwartz, Mark, “The Black Box of Board Process: Gaining Access to a Difficult Subject,” Corporate Governance: An International Review (September 2007), 843-851.
2007
Leblanc, Richard “The Eight “Cs: Of Board Performance Assessment” The Corporate Board (May-June 2007), 16-21.
2007
Leblanc, Richard, 20 Questions Directors Should Ask About Assessments (Toronto: Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, 2006).
2006
Leblanc, Richard “Assessing Individual Directors: An Idea Whose Time Has Come,” Journal on Corporate Governance in Russia and Other Transitional Economies [Online] (October 2006).
2006
Leblanc, Richard, and Gillies, James, “Governance 2.0: From Compliance to Strategy: Is Your Board Prepared,” Corporate Governance: International Journal for Enhancing Board Performance (2006) 6:1, 4-6.
2006
Jones, Mark, and Leblanc, Richard, “Human Chemistry and Independent Assessment Drive Boardroom Performance,” Company Director (Australian Institute for Company Directors: July 2006), 50-52.
2006
Jones, Mark, and Leblanc, Richard, “Human ‘Chemistry’: A Key Driver of Future Australian Boardroom Performance,” International Corporate Governance Review (2006), 86-91.
2006
Gillies, James, Bartha, Peter and Leblanc, Richard, “Structure vs. Function and the Evolution of Corporate Governance Regulation and Research in the United States,” Russian Management Journal (2006) 4:1, 147-162.
2006
Leblanc, Richard, and Gillies, James, “The Coming Revolution in Corporate Governance,” Corporate Governance: International Journal for Enhancing Board Performance (2006) 5:2, 6-10. (This article is adapted from Chapter 11 from Inside the Boardroom, supra.)
2006
Leblanc, Richard, “The Nomination and Assessment of Individual Directors: Questions Shareholders Should Be Asking: A Case Study,” Corporate Governance: International Journal for Enhancing Board Performance (2006) 6:3, 24-28.
2006
Leblanc, Richard, “Understanding the Revolution in Corporate Governance,” Across the Board: A Newsletter for Australian Directors (February 2006), 8-10.
2006
Leblanc, Richard, “What Gets Measured Gets Managed,” Across the Board: A Newsletter for Australian Directors (December 2006), 8-10. Reprinted in Audit Committee Quarterly, Audit Committee Institute Ireland (February 2008), 9-11.
2006
Leblanc, Richard “Assessing Board Leadership,” Corporate Governance: An International Review (September 2005), 654-666.
2005
Leblanc, Richard, contributor, “Performance Measurement: A Finance and Management Special Report (SR9),” Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (September 2005), 33-34.
2005
Leblanc, Richard, “The Coming Revolution in Corporate Governance,” Australian Chief Executive (May 2006), “adapted from Richard Leblanc’s address Effective Corporate Governance: Measuring and Benchmarking Board and Director Performance, to CEDA Melbourne on 8 November 2005,” 24-27.
2005
Leblanc, Richard, “Preventing Future Hollingers,” Ivey Business Journal (September-October 2004), 1-9.
2004
Leblanc, Richard, and Schwartz, Mark, “The Black Box of Board Process: Lessons in Studying Difficult Subjects,” Academy of Management Meeting (Research Methods Division), New Orleans, August 2004 (accepted but not presented).
2004
Leblanc, Richard “What’s Wrong With Corporate Governance: A Note,” Corporate Governance: An International Review (October 2004), 436-441.
2004
Leblanc, Richard, “Director Education and Orientation Programs,” The Corporate Board (July-August 2003), 23-25.
2003
Light, Dorothy K., and Leblanc, Richard, “Integrating the New and Educating the Current Director,” The Effective Board (National Association for Corporate Directors, Washington, D.C., July 2003), 7-9.
2003
Leblanc, Richard, and Gillies, James, “The Coming Revolution in Corporate Governance,” Ivey Business Journal (September-October 2003), 1-11.
2003
Leblanc, Richard, “Assessing Board Performance: 10 Key Factors,” The Corporate Board (January-February 2002), 1-7.
2002
Leblanc, Richard, “Board Assessments” Directors Monthly, Special Issue on Board Evaluation, National Association of Corporate Directors, Washington, D.C., Spring 2002.
2002
Leblanc, Richard, “Research Note on Board Effectiveness,” Director’s Monthly (National Association for Corporate Directors, Washington, D.C., November 2002), 17.
2002
Leblanc, Richard, “Board Assessment: A Top 10 List for Assessing the Effectiveness of Your Board and Individual Directors,” Federated Press Journal of Corporate Governance 2001 (1:4), 38-43.
2001
Leblanc, Richard “Are Global Corporate Governance Practices Converging? A Report to the OECD on Corporate Governance and Lessons from the Asian Currency Crisis,” Global Focus (1999) 11:2, 151-166. (This journal has been merged with Thunderbird International Business Review.)
1999
Leblanc, Richard, and Hebb, Laurence, “Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice,” within a special essay forum in memory of Max Clarkson, Business & Society (March 1999),
1999
Leblanc, Richard, and Hebb, Laurence, “Directors at the Gate,” Professional Administrator, newsletter of The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in Canada (1999) 23:2, 18-21.
1999
Leblanc, Richard, and Hebb, Laurence, “Directors at the Gate,” Professional Administrator, newsletter of The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in Canada (1999) 23:2, 18-21.
1999
Hebb, Laurence, and Leblanc, Richard, “Ethics in International Business Transactions,” Canadian International Lawyer (1998) 3:1, 1-7, 27.
1998
Professional Journal Articles
Publication
Year
Please see full and most recent professional journal articles (refereed and non-refereed) here: http://www.yorku.ca/rleblanc/html/spc.html
Conference Papers
Publication
Year
Leblanc, Richard, and Lascaris, A. Dimitri, “Shareholder Litigation: An Important Tool for Effecting Corporate Governance Reform,” The Second International Class Action Conference, Westin Hotel, Sydney, Australia, October 25-26, 2007.
2007
Leblanc, Richard, “Improving Board Decision-Making: An Inside View,” Henley Management College, October 2003 and October 2005, Oxfordshire, U.K.
2005
Leblanc, Richard, “Getting Into the Black Box: What Really Matters in Board Decision-Making,” Henley Management College, Oct. 2000, Oxfordshire, U.K.
2000
Conference Proceedings
Publication
Year
Conger, Jay, Dalton, Dan, Leblanc, Richard, Liang, Neng, and Useem, Michael, “Boards of Directors,” a Symposium Submission for the Academy of Management Meetings, Chicago, 2009.
2009
Burke, Ronald, and Leblanc, Richard, “Women on Corporate Boards of Directors: Ongoing Challenges,” presentation to “Women on Boards of Directors: Interventional Strategies and Global Action for Board Level Gender Equity” Symposium, Academy of Management Meeting, Atlanta, 2006.
2006
Leblanc, Richard, “The Firm: Developing Effective Governance,” in Anand, Anita I. and Flanagan, William F., eds., “Conflicts of Interest in Capital Market Structures: Papers Presented at the 10th Annual Queen’s Business Law Symposium October 2003” (2004), 1-16. See also Peter Dey, “Thoughts on Richard Leblanc’s Paper, ‘The Firm – Developing Effective Governance,’” ibid., 17-18, and W. F. Flanagan, “Comment on Richard Leblanc’s paper…,” ibid., 19-21.
2003
Presentation, “Plenary Session 9: Board Effectiveness: How to Measure What Really Counts,” GUBERNA, Brussels (December 6, 2010). Submission entitled “Separating the Role of Chair and CEO – More is Needed, Including Leadership Skills and Industry Knowledge” accepted (with Katrina Pick) for presentation at the Corporate Governance & Global financial crisis conference, Wharton School, Philadelphia (September 24, 2010). Submission entitled “Working with part-time faculty to enhance teaching and the curriculum” accepted (with Sandra Scott) for Round-Table Discussion at the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education conference, Toronto (June 24, 2010). Submission entitled “The Movement Towards Independently Assured Board Evaluation: Development of Criteria and Processes and Implications for the Internal Audit Function” accepted to the 8th European Conference on Internal Audit and Corporate Governance, Chios, Greece (2010. Did not attend).
Other
Publication
Year
Please see: http://www.yorku.ca/rleblanc/html/spc.html
Approach to Teaching
Director, Master in Financial Accountability Program, York University, December 2015 – Present. Grew program from a few dozen students to over 200. See here.
Instructor, DNGM: Law and Corporate Governance, Graduate Diploma in Management, York University, 2020 – present.
Harvard University, Summer Faculty, 26 June – 9 August 2012, 25 June – 8 August 2013, 24 June – 7 August 2014, 13 – 30 July, 2015, 11 – 28 July 2016, 10 – 27 July 2017, 16 July – 2 August 2018, and 15 July – 1 August 2019.
Member, Faculty of Graduate Studies, York University.
Member, PhD Examining Committee, Solange Charas, Case Western Reserve University, 2013-2014.
Research Fellow and Advisory Board Member, Institute for Excellence in Corporate Governance, University of Texas at Dallas, Jindal School of Management, 2012 – 2019.
Current Courses
| Term | Course Number | Section | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter 2025 | GS/DMGM5080 1.5 | M | Law and Corporate Governance | ONCA |
Upcoming Courses
| Term | Course Number | Section | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 2025 | GS/FACC6500 3.0 | A | Corporate Governance | ONLN |
Dr. Leblanc is a leading expert on corporate governance and accountability. He is an award-winning teacher and researcher, lawyer, public speaker, consultant, and specialist on boards of directors. He was awarded Fellow of the Institute of Certified Management Consultants of Ontario, and Academic Fellow of the International Council of Management Consulting Institutes; has taught corporate governance at Harvard University; and is a member of Canada’s Who’s Who.
He brings to business and professional audiences a depth of information from his extensive research and work with over 250 organizations and boards, and training and development of over 1,000 directors and managers. He is engaging, dynamic, and personable.
Dr. Leblanc is Editor of “The Handbook of Board Governance: A Comprehensive Guide for Public, Private, and Not-for-Profit Board Members,” 3rd Ed. (Wiley, March 2024). His first edition has sold 7,000 copies worldwide and the seminal “Inside The Boardroom” has sold over 6,500 copies. Dr. Leblanc’s work has been described by various faculty at Harvard, Yale, London Business School and elsewhere as “great & much needed,” “wonderful and pragmatic,” “thorough” and “nothing short of remarkable,” as well as by Fortune 500, NYSE, FTSE and other company leaders as “leading edge,” “ground-breaking,” “valuable guidance,” “indispensable,” “compelling” and “exceptional.”
Dr. Leblanc has authored over 200 publications and reports, delivered over 600 invited speeches, and sat for over 700 media appearances.
He possesses an extensive and diversified professional network. He is the founder of Boardexpert.com Inc and the LinkedIn Group Boards and Advisors, with over 30,000 members globally. He has over 10,000 connections on LinkedIn, and his regular newsletter is accessible to 40,000 directors and other individuals.
Dr. Leblanc’s insight has guided leaders of organizations through his teaching, writing, and direct consultation to government regulators, and national and multinational corporations. He has been an external advisor or expert witness to ASX, LSE, Nasdaq, NYSE and TSX boards of directors, including boards that have won national awards and peer endorsement for their governance practices. His work, directly or indirectly, has impacted companies throughout the world, including those that have used Dr. Leblanc’s methodology to strengthen their governance effectiveness and accountability practices.
Dr. Leblanc is frequently consulted by stakeholders – such as companies, investors, associations, partnerships, not-for-profit organizations, Crown organizations, the media and regulators – for the latest developments and trends, and customizes his speaking engagements and consultations to suit all types of audiences. He is the founder and principal of Boardexpert.com, an advisory firm providing customized governance transformation.
Degrees
PhD, Schulich/York UniversityJD, University of Detroit Mercy
LLM, Osgoode/York University
LLB, University of Windsor
MBA, University of Toronto
Professional Leadership
Dr. Leblanc is a dynamic speaker who has been called upon to provide his expertise in governance, law and ethics across all sectors and industries.
Dr. Leblanc’s number of lifetime public appearances and invited talks is six hundred and sixty-seven (667).
Community Contributions
Dr. Leblanc is an expert in governance, law and ethics, and is listed under York University's Experts Guide. He is regularly interviewed in all types of media, and has appeared on television, on radio, in print, and in digital format.
Dr. Leblanc’s number of lifetime media appearances are seven hundred and twenty-eight (728).
Research Interests
Business
, Policy, Corporate Governance (all facets), Legal Environment of Business, Business Ethics,
Governance, Law & Ethics
Awards
- Canadian Who’s Who, 2010. - 2010
- “Theory and Practice Award,” 2006, School of Administrative Studies (“SAS”), Atkinson Faculty of Liberal and Professional Studies, York University, recognizing a significant contribution by an SAS faculty member on the academic and practical significance of one piece of work and the extent to which it helps to bridge management theory and practice, for Leblanc, Richard, and Gillies, James, Inside the Boardroom: How Boards Really Work and the Coming Revolution in Corporate Governance (Toronto: Wiley, 2005). 2006 - 2006
- First Annual Emerald Publishing / European Foundation for Management Development Outstanding Doctoral Research Award, “Highly Commended” (Runner up), Management and Governance Category, June 2005. - 2005
- “Top 40 Under 40”™ for Canada, May 3, 2005. Winner of the “Top 40 Under 40 Award”™ in 2005, recognized as one of 40 people under 40 years of age chosen from across Canada based on accomplishments indicating vision, leadership, innovation and achievement. - 2005
- Udayan Rege Best Dissertation Award, Administrative Sciences Association of Canada, June 6, 2004. - 2004
- York University Teaching Award, First Place Winner, inaugural Seymour Schulich BBA Award for Teaching Excellence, York University, as selected by students, 1998. - 1998
- Diligent Modern Governance 100 - 2021
- Fellow Certified Management Consultant - 2020
- Academic Fellow - CMC Global - 2021
- Joyce Borden-Reed Distinguished Contribution Award - 2017
- School of Administrative Studies Recognition for Excellence in Research - 2022
All Publications
Book Chapters
Publication
Year
Leblanc, Richard “Getting the Right Directors on Your Board,” in Conger, Jay, ed., Boardroom Realities: Building Leaders Across Your Board (London: Josey-Bass, March 2009).
2009
Burke, Ron, and Leblanc, Richard, “Women on Corporate Boards: The Canadian Perspective,” in Burke, Ron, Singh, Val, Bilimoria, Diane, and Huse, Morten, Women on Corporate Boards of Directors: Research and Practice (Cheltenham, Glos: Edward Elgar, forthcoming, January 2009).
2009
Leblanc, Richard “Developing Effective Corporate Governance,” in Wesson, Thomas, ed., The New World Economic Order (Toronto: Captus Press, 2007), 260-274. Adapted from the Annual Queen’s Business Law Symposium conference proceedings, infra. See http://www.captus.com/Information/catalogue/book.asp?Book+Number=935 for more information.
2007
Leblanc, Richard, “Assessing the Effectiveness of Boards of Directors and Individual Directors,” in Ali, Paul U., and Gregoriou, Greg N., eds., International Corporate Governance After Sarbanes-Oxley (Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2006), 485-524. Adapted from Leblanc, 20 Questions Directors Should Ask About Assessments, infra.
2006
Books
Publication
Year
Leblanc, Richard, ed., The Handbook of Board Governance: A Comprehensive Guide for Public, Private, and Not for Profit Board Members, 3rd ed., San Francisco: Wiley (March 2024).
2024
Leblanc, Richard, ed., The Handbook of Board Governance: A Comprehensive Guide for Public, Private, and Not for Profit Board Members, 2nd ed., San Francisco: Wiley (2020).
2020
Leblanc, Richard, ed., The Handbook of Board Governance: A Comprehensive Guide for Public, Private, and Not for Profit Board Members (San Francisco, CA: John Wiley, 2016).
2016
Leblanc, Richard, and Gillies, James, Inside the Boardroom: How Boards Really Work and the Coming Revolution in Corporate Governance (Toronto: Wiley, 2005); and translated into Russian: Inside the Boardroom (Moscow: Wiley, 2006). www.amazon.ca/boardroom.
2005
Journal Articles
Publication
Year
Please see full and most recent publications here: http://www.yorku.ca/rleblanc/html/spc.html
Leblanc, Richard, “10 Ways to Prepare for Disruption,” Board Agenda (10 June 2024).
2024
Leblanc, Richard, “The Establishment, Composition, and Functioning of a Special Committee of a Board of Directors,” International In-house Counsel Journal Vol. 17, No. 67, Spring 2024, 1.
2024
Leblanc, Richard, “Consulting Advice on Investigations into Possible CEO Misconduct,” Management Consulting Journal (Volume 6.2, June, 2023).
2023
Leblanc, Richard, “What I would like to see happen in 2023 on North American Boards,” Board Agenda (January, 2023).
2023
Leblanc, Richard, “Board Priorities 2022: A Checklist for Directors,” Board Agenda (January 12, 2022). Click here for the article.
2022
Leblanc, Richard, “Governance for Management Consultants,” Management Consulting Journal (Volume 5, January, 2022). Click here for the article.
2022
Leblanc, Richard, “Serving on a Non-Profit Board: Effective Governance - Q&A With Dr Richard Leblanc,” Wiley - Society Leaders (February 2, 2022).
2022
Leblanc, Richard, “Trends and Issues Boards and Board Committees Must Talk About Today,” Credit Union Management - Governance (February 2, 2022).
2022
Leblanc, Richard, “20 Questions Directors of Not-For-Profit Organizations Should Ask about Recruiting, Developing and Renewing Directors” (Toronto: Chartered Professional Accountants of Canada, 2019).
2019
Leblanc, Richard, “Eyes and Ears Wide Open” AB International (March, 2018). See
2018
Leblanc, Richard, “Overseeing Culture and the Employee Voice on Boards Under the Proposed UK Code Revisions” Hawkamah Journal (Issue 11, pages 4-6, 2018).
2018
Leblanc, Richard, “Why Governance Evaluations Fail,” The Corporate Board (September / October 2015), pp. 6-10.
2015
Leblanc, Richard, “Corporate Governance Trends, Pressures, and Responses,” Stewardship Review: Insights for the Boardroom Summer 2015, Conference Board of Canada (Toronto: 2015). Click here for the article.
2015
Leblanc, Richard, “What a Board Expects from Management and What Management Expects from A Board,” Boards, Ontario Hospital Association (Toronto: February, 2013), at 9-11.
2013
Leblanc, Richard, “Director removal: a five-point plan” Corporate Governance Quarterly, ICSA Chartered Secretaries Canada (Toronto: Winter, 2012) 4-5. Reproduced with permission from Listed: The Magazine for Canadian Listed Companies, below.
2013
Leblanc, Richard, “Forty Proposals to Strengthen: the Public Company Board of Director’s Role in Value Creation; Management Accountability to the Board; and Board Accountability to Shareholders," International Journal of Disclosure and Governance (2013) 1-16. See article here.
2013
Leblanc, Richard, Special Editor, “Editorial: Enhancing the effectiveness of the 21st century board of directors,’” International Journal of Disclosure and Governance (2013) 10:2, 93-97.
2013
Leblanc, Richard, “Aligning Pay to Value Creation and Performance: 12 compensation opportunities that boards and committees should consider,” ICD Director, Institute of Corporate Directors (Toronto: forthcoming, 2012).
2012
Leblanc, Richard, et al., “General Commentary on European Union Corporate Governance Proposals,’” International Journal of Disclosure and Governance (October 2011) 9:1, 1-35.
2011
Leblanc, Richard “The Walker Review Proposes ‘The Toughest Governance Regime in the World,’” International Journal of Disclosure and Governance (2010) 7:1, 20-27. Please see here. Adapted and modified from “The Walker Review in the UK Proposes Tough New Regulatory Requirements”, supra. This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in International Journal of Disclosure and Governance. The definitive publisher-authenticated version International Journal of Disclosure and Governance (2010) 7:1, 20-27 is available online: http://www.palgrave-journals.com/jdg/index.html
2010
Leblanc, Richard, and Schwartz, Mark, “Effective Boards of Directors: An Examination of Director Behavioural-Types,” Corporate Ownership & Control (Winter 2008) 5:2, 154-167.
2008
Leblanc, Richard “Recruitment, training and assessment (and removal) of directors post SOX,” International Journal of Disclosure and Governance (February 2008) 5:1 at 8-14.
2008
Leblanc, Richard, “Risk Management Oversight: Is Your Board at Risk?” Directors Monthly, National Association of Corporate Directors, (Washington, D.C.: June 2008), 17-18. Reprinted within program “The Board’s Role in Risk Assessment, Mitigation and Disclosure,” American Bar Association (ABA) Corporate Governance Committee and Corporate Compliance and Corporate Counsel Committee, New York City, August 9, 2008.
2008
Leblanc, Richard, “Corporate Governance and Board Effectiveness 2.0,” International Journal of Business Governance and Ethics (2007) 3:2, 106-112.
2007
Bury, Sophie, and Leblanc, Richard, “Corporate Governance Research on the Free Web: A Selected Annotated Guide,” Reference Services Review (2007) 35:3, 497-514.
2007
Leblanc, Richard “Effective Risk Oversight by Boards in 2007: What are the Key Areas,” Corporate Governance: International Journal for Enhancing Board Performance (2007) 7:1, 18-20.
2007
Leblanc, Richard “External Disclosure of Leading Governance Assessment Practices: What Shareholders Should be Asking and Companies Should be Disclosing,” International Journal of Disclosure and Governance (August 2007), 167-180.
2007
Smith, Mark, and Leblanc, Richard, “Nose In, Fingers Out: The Role of Outside Directors in Assessing Insurance Company Strategy” Canadian Insurance (Toronto: March 2007), 36-41.
2007
Leblanc, Richard, “Ten Ways to Enhance the Effectiveness of the Audit Committee,” Ivey Business Journal [Online] (September-October 2007).
2007
Leblanc, Richard, and Schwartz, Mark, “The Black Box of Board Process: Gaining Access to a Difficult Subject,” Corporate Governance: An International Review (September 2007), 843-851.
2007
Leblanc, Richard “The Eight “Cs: Of Board Performance Assessment” The Corporate Board (May-June 2007), 16-21.
2007
Leblanc, Richard, 20 Questions Directors Should Ask About Assessments (Toronto: Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants, 2006).
2006
Leblanc, Richard “Assessing Individual Directors: An Idea Whose Time Has Come,” Journal on Corporate Governance in Russia and Other Transitional Economies [Online] (October 2006).
2006
Leblanc, Richard, and Gillies, James, “Governance 2.0: From Compliance to Strategy: Is Your Board Prepared,” Corporate Governance: International Journal for Enhancing Board Performance (2006) 6:1, 4-6.
2006
Jones, Mark, and Leblanc, Richard, “Human Chemistry and Independent Assessment Drive Boardroom Performance,” Company Director (Australian Institute for Company Directors: July 2006), 50-52.
2006
Jones, Mark, and Leblanc, Richard, “Human ‘Chemistry’: A Key Driver of Future Australian Boardroom Performance,” International Corporate Governance Review (2006), 86-91.
2006
Gillies, James, Bartha, Peter and Leblanc, Richard, “Structure vs. Function and the Evolution of Corporate Governance Regulation and Research in the United States,” Russian Management Journal (2006) 4:1, 147-162.
2006
Leblanc, Richard, and Gillies, James, “The Coming Revolution in Corporate Governance,” Corporate Governance: International Journal for Enhancing Board Performance (2006) 5:2, 6-10. (This article is adapted from Chapter 11 from Inside the Boardroom, supra.)
2006
Leblanc, Richard, “The Nomination and Assessment of Individual Directors: Questions Shareholders Should Be Asking: A Case Study,” Corporate Governance: International Journal for Enhancing Board Performance (2006) 6:3, 24-28.
2006
Leblanc, Richard, “Understanding the Revolution in Corporate Governance,” Across the Board: A Newsletter for Australian Directors (February 2006), 8-10.
2006
Leblanc, Richard, “What Gets Measured Gets Managed,” Across the Board: A Newsletter for Australian Directors (December 2006), 8-10. Reprinted in Audit Committee Quarterly, Audit Committee Institute Ireland (February 2008), 9-11.
2006
Leblanc, Richard “Assessing Board Leadership,” Corporate Governance: An International Review (September 2005), 654-666.
2005
Leblanc, Richard, contributor, “Performance Measurement: A Finance and Management Special Report (SR9),” Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (September 2005), 33-34.
2005
Leblanc, Richard, “The Coming Revolution in Corporate Governance,” Australian Chief Executive (May 2006), “adapted from Richard Leblanc’s address Effective Corporate Governance: Measuring and Benchmarking Board and Director Performance, to CEDA Melbourne on 8 November 2005,” 24-27.
2005
Leblanc, Richard, “Preventing Future Hollingers,” Ivey Business Journal (September-October 2004), 1-9.
2004
Leblanc, Richard, and Schwartz, Mark, “The Black Box of Board Process: Lessons in Studying Difficult Subjects,” Academy of Management Meeting (Research Methods Division), New Orleans, August 2004 (accepted but not presented).
2004
Leblanc, Richard “What’s Wrong With Corporate Governance: A Note,” Corporate Governance: An International Review (October 2004), 436-441.
2004
Leblanc, Richard, “Director Education and Orientation Programs,” The Corporate Board (July-August 2003), 23-25.
2003
Light, Dorothy K., and Leblanc, Richard, “Integrating the New and Educating the Current Director,” The Effective Board (National Association for Corporate Directors, Washington, D.C., July 2003), 7-9.
2003
Leblanc, Richard, and Gillies, James, “The Coming Revolution in Corporate Governance,” Ivey Business Journal (September-October 2003), 1-11.
2003
Leblanc, Richard, “Assessing Board Performance: 10 Key Factors,” The Corporate Board (January-February 2002), 1-7.
2002
Leblanc, Richard, “Board Assessments” Directors Monthly, Special Issue on Board Evaluation, National Association of Corporate Directors, Washington, D.C., Spring 2002.
2002
Leblanc, Richard, “Research Note on Board Effectiveness,” Director’s Monthly (National Association for Corporate Directors, Washington, D.C., November 2002), 17.
2002
Leblanc, Richard, “Board Assessment: A Top 10 List for Assessing the Effectiveness of Your Board and Individual Directors,” Federated Press Journal of Corporate Governance 2001 (1:4), 38-43.
2001
Leblanc, Richard “Are Global Corporate Governance Practices Converging? A Report to the OECD on Corporate Governance and Lessons from the Asian Currency Crisis,” Global Focus (1999) 11:2, 151-166. (This journal has been merged with Thunderbird International Business Review.)
1999
Leblanc, Richard, and Hebb, Laurence, “Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice,” within a special essay forum in memory of Max Clarkson, Business & Society (March 1999),
1999
Leblanc, Richard, and Hebb, Laurence, “Directors at the Gate,” Professional Administrator, newsletter of The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in Canada (1999) 23:2, 18-21.
1999
Leblanc, Richard, and Hebb, Laurence, “Directors at the Gate,” Professional Administrator, newsletter of The Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in Canada (1999) 23:2, 18-21.
1999
Hebb, Laurence, and Leblanc, Richard, “Ethics in International Business Transactions,” Canadian International Lawyer (1998) 3:1, 1-7, 27.
1998
Professional Journal Articles
Publication
Year
Please see full and most recent professional journal articles (refereed and non-refereed) here: http://www.yorku.ca/rleblanc/html/spc.html
Conference Papers
Publication
Year
Leblanc, Richard, and Lascaris, A. Dimitri, “Shareholder Litigation: An Important Tool for Effecting Corporate Governance Reform,” The Second International Class Action Conference, Westin Hotel, Sydney, Australia, October 25-26, 2007.
2007
Leblanc, Richard, “Improving Board Decision-Making: An Inside View,” Henley Management College, October 2003 and October 2005, Oxfordshire, U.K.
2005
Leblanc, Richard, “Getting Into the Black Box: What Really Matters in Board Decision-Making,” Henley Management College, Oct. 2000, Oxfordshire, U.K.
2000
Conference Proceedings
Publication
Year
Conger, Jay, Dalton, Dan, Leblanc, Richard, Liang, Neng, and Useem, Michael, “Boards of Directors,” a Symposium Submission for the Academy of Management Meetings, Chicago, 2009.
2009
Burke, Ronald, and Leblanc, Richard, “Women on Corporate Boards of Directors: Ongoing Challenges,” presentation to “Women on Boards of Directors: Interventional Strategies and Global Action for Board Level Gender Equity” Symposium, Academy of Management Meeting, Atlanta, 2006.
2006
Leblanc, Richard, “The Firm: Developing Effective Governance,” in Anand, Anita I. and Flanagan, William F., eds., “Conflicts of Interest in Capital Market Structures: Papers Presented at the 10th Annual Queen’s Business Law Symposium October 2003” (2004), 1-16. See also Peter Dey, “Thoughts on Richard Leblanc’s Paper, ‘The Firm – Developing Effective Governance,’” ibid., 17-18, and W. F. Flanagan, “Comment on Richard Leblanc’s paper…,” ibid., 19-21.
2003
Presentation, “Plenary Session 9: Board Effectiveness: How to Measure What Really Counts,” GUBERNA, Brussels (December 6, 2010). Submission entitled “Separating the Role of Chair and CEO – More is Needed, Including Leadership Skills and Industry Knowledge” accepted (with Katrina Pick) for presentation at the Corporate Governance & Global financial crisis conference, Wharton School, Philadelphia (September 24, 2010). Submission entitled “Working with part-time faculty to enhance teaching and the curriculum” accepted (with Sandra Scott) for Round-Table Discussion at the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education conference, Toronto (June 24, 2010). Submission entitled “The Movement Towards Independently Assured Board Evaluation: Development of Criteria and Processes and Implications for the Internal Audit Function” accepted to the 8th European Conference on Internal Audit and Corporate Governance, Chios, Greece (2010. Did not attend).
Other
Publication
Year
Please see: http://www.yorku.ca/rleblanc/html/spc.html
Approach to Teaching
Director, Master in Financial Accountability Program, York University, December 2015 – Present. Grew program from a few dozen students to over 200. See here.
Instructor, DNGM: Law and Corporate Governance, Graduate Diploma in Management, York University, 2020 – present.
Harvard University, Summer Faculty, 26 June – 9 August 2012, 25 June – 8 August 2013, 24 June – 7 August 2014, 13 – 30 July, 2015, 11 – 28 July 2016, 10 – 27 July 2017, 16 July – 2 August 2018, and 15 July – 1 August 2019.
Member, Faculty of Graduate Studies, York University.
Member, PhD Examining Committee, Solange Charas, Case Western Reserve University, 2013-2014.
Research Fellow and Advisory Board Member, Institute for Excellence in Corporate Governance, University of Texas at Dallas, Jindal School of Management, 2012 – 2019.
Current Courses
| Term | Course Number | Section | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter 2025 | GS/DMGM5080 1.5 | M | Law and Corporate Governance | ONCA |
Upcoming Courses
| Term | Course Number | Section | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer 2025 | GS/FACC6500 3.0 | A | Corporate Governance | ONLN |
