Winmark

🌐Tomorrow, we continue the 2026 Global GC Academy with our second masterclass: The Role of the GC & Legal Department The session will be delivered by two outstanding legal leaders: 👤Amitabh Lal Das – Chief Legal Officer and Senior C-Suite Leader 👤Yoko Oshima – Associate General Counsel, Microsoft This masterclass explores how General Counsel can lead high-performing legal departments that operate as strategic business partners. The session examines how to position the legal team for maximum enterprise impact, build strong internal credibility, and move from cost centre to value creator. Ahead of the session, we’re pleased to share a few words from Amitabh on the Global GC Academy, and we’re very much looking forward to continuing the masterclasses with this important discussion. You can learn more at: https://lnkd.in/e3rMPK_q

🌐 Global GC Academy | Faculty Highlight We’re pleased to welcome Yoko Oshima, Associate General Counsel at Microsoft, who will be delivering tomorrow’s session on The Role of the GC & Legal Department. 💬 We’re pleased to share a few words from Yoko on the Global GC Academy. Yoko Oshima is a legal, compliance, and public policy professional whose career has focused on helping global organizations navigate technological change, business transformation, and increasingly complex regulatory and geopolitical environments. As Associate General Counsel of Microsoft and former Head of Corporate, External and Legal Affairs at Microsoft Japan, she leads legal and policy engagement on some of the most consequential issues facing organizations today, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure, and responsible innovation. Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/eQRZ5As2

Mature pension schemes have had to pay closer attention to portfolio liquidity in recent years, bringing the management of illiquid assets increasingly into focus. For some schemes, disposing of illiquid holdings may be an important step towards an insurance transaction. For others, a sale may support wider portfolio management--- improving liquidity, rebalancing exposures or freeing up capital for other opportunities. At our upcoming PensionChair webinar on the 1st of October, we will explore the market for illiquid assets, the process of disposing of holdings, and how schemes can navigate potential challenges as efficiently as possible. We are delighted to be joined by Mike Bynarowicz, Managing Director at Evercore, and Leanne Moezi, Partner at Hogan Lovells Cadwalader, with Melanie Cusack, Client Director at ZEDRA Group, chairing the discussion. #PensionChair #Pensions #IlliquidAssets #PensionTrustees #DeRisking

Today, we open the 2026 Global GC Academy Delivered in collaboration with King's College London, the Academy brings together General Counsel and senior legal leaders for seven executive masterclasses focused on the strategic leadership of the modern legal function. We begin with: Working with the Board & Stakeholders 👤Mine Hifzi: General Counsel & Company Secretary, Heathrow Airport 👤Omiyinka Doris: Former Group General Counsel, now CEO Advisor, VEON The opening masterclass examines the role of the General Counsel at board level: navigating complex governance environments, engaging with senior stakeholders, communicating risk with clarity, and ensuring legal priorities are aligned with wider business strategy. As expectations of the GC continue to extend well beyond legal oversight, the ability to operate as a strategic adviser to the Board and wider executive team is increasingly fundamental to the role. We look forward to welcoming the 2026 cohort and beginning seven weeks of high-level discussion, insight and peer exchange.

How confident are pension schemes in the quality of their member data, and what is the cost when gaps remain? Winmark is conducting new research exploring endgame readiness and member data quality across UK pension schemes. The research will examine trustee confidence in member data, alongside the financial, governance, and operational implications of poor data quality. We would be very grateful for your insights. Take the survey: https://lnkd.in/dWQ6yuzB All respondents will receive a copy of the final report. Responses will be presented in aggregate, with no individual or organisation identified. #PensionChair #Pensions #DataQuality #PensionSchemes #Trustees

Global GC Academy 2026 | Commencing next week Next Friday, we will welcome another exceptional cohort to the Global GC Academy, delivered by Winmark in collaboration with King's College London. Following the success of our previous Academy, we are delighted to bring together another outstanding faculty and delegate group for 2026, featuring globally recognised General Counsel, legal innovators and academic thought leaders. Across seven weeks, the programme will explore the strategic and operational priorities at the heart of the modern GC role. 18 September | Working with the Board & Stakeholders 👤Mine Hifzi, General Counsel & Company Secretary, Heathrow Airport 👤Omiyinka Doris, Former Group General Counsel, now CEO Advisor, VEON 25 September | The Role of GC & Legal Department 👤Amitabh Lal Das, Chief Legal Officer, Hyundai Motor India 👤Yoko Oshima, Associate General Counsel, Microsoft 2 October | Planning, Budgets & Reporting 👤Salah Mostafa, Head of Legal (Immunology International), Novartis 👤Filippo Cossalter, Head of Legal Europe, ME & Africa, Ericsson 9 October | Legal Risk Management (Data & Cyber) 👤Harry Borovick, General Counsel, Luminance & Author of AI and the Law 👤Mark Cockerill, SVP, Legal – Corporate, M&A and International Development, ServiceNow 16 October | Legal Talent Management 👤Katja Roth Pellanda, Group General Counsel, Zurich Insurance Group 👤Spencer Davis, Chief Legal Officer, Lifezone Materials 23 October | AI & Digital Transformation 👤Dan Hunter, Executive Dean, The Dickson Poon School of Law 👤Christoph Kletzer, Professor of Law, Vice Dean International, The Dickson Poon School of Law 30 October | Demand & Supplier Management 👤Claude Bahoshy, Legal Director, Global Procurement & Legal Operations, Reckitt 👤Chris Fowler, Chief Operating Officer – Legal, Governance and Corporate Affairs, Rio Tinto The programme commences next Friday, 18 September, and there are now just two places remaining to join the 2026 cohort. Learn more about the Global GC Academy → https://lnkd.in/e3rMPK_q

What does a resilient business continuity plan look like in practice – and would it still work when a crisis actually hits? At Monday's PensionChair meeting, members joined Mathieu Backus and Joe Smith from WTW, with Mike Weston chairing the discussion, to explore how trustee boards can strengthen their approach to business continuity planning and where there might be gaps. The conversation moved beyond cyber risk alone, looking at how schemes can prepare for disruption across administrators, payroll, banking, investment arrangements, data, communications and other critical services. Following are some key takeaways from the session: • Start with critical services. Identify what must keep functioning and how quickly services need to recover. • Understand third-party dependencies. Know providers’ continuity arrangements and where potential gaps lie. • Define roles and responsibilities. Clear crisis roles and accessible contact details are essential when normal channels fail. Thanks to everyone who joined and were so generous in sharing their knowledge and experience. #PensionChair #Pensions #BusinessContinuity #RiskManagement #PensionTrustees

Global CFO Academy 2026: Final Chance to Join the 2026 Cohort Starting this Friday, 11 September, the Global CFO Academy brings together senior finance leaders, experienced CFOs and leading academics from Bayes Business School for seven weeks of practical, high-level executive learning. Delivered by Winmark in partnership with Bayes Business School, the programme is designed for finance leaders looking to strengthen their strategic, commercial and leadership impact at enterprise level. Seven live masterclasses cover: ➜ Strategic Planning, Governance & Risk ➜ Partnering with the Board, CEO & Stakeholders ➜ Finance Transformation, AI & Innovation ➜ M&A in the Age of AI ➜ Corporate Finance & Markets ➜ Cost, Investment & Supplier Management ➜ Talent, Culture & Organisational Development The 2026 faculty includes globally recognised CFOs, finance innovators, and academic thought leaders who have operated at the highest levels across Fortune, FTSE, and global organisations. 📅 Starting this Friday. Final places remain for the 2026 cohort. → Learn more or apply: https://lnkd.in/eCzTuJQj → Enquiries: sandy.markwick@winmarkglobal.com #CFO #FinanceLeadership #ExecutiveEducation #Leadership

We are delighted to welcome Mary Genevieve Chelini as a delegate on the Global CFO Academy, delivered by Winmark in partnership with Bayes Business School. The Academy brings together senior finance leaders from around the world to explore the evolving role of the CFO, from strategy, leadership and value creation to AI and the future of the finance function. The seven masterclasses and supporting know-how cover: ➜ Leading the Finance Department, Strategic Planning, Governance & Risk ➜ Cost, Investment & Supplier Management ➜ The Modern CFO: Partnering with the Board, CEO & Stakeholders ➜ Finance Transformation, AI & Innovation ➜ Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) in the Age of AI ➜ Corporate Finance & Markets ➜ Talent, Culture & Organisational Development 🔗 Learn more or apply now at: https://lnkd.in/eCzTuJQj A big welcome to Mary. We’re looking forward to having you as part of the 2026 cohort and to the experience and perspectives you’ll bring to the group. #GlobalCFOAcademy #CFO #FinanceLeadership #Leadership #Winmark #BayesBusinessSchool