An important new governance survey provides a unique opportunity for leadership to assure that key corporate responsibility-focused officers have appropriate levels of authority and visibility within the organization.

The new survey, from the consulting firm LNR and Tapestry Networks, concludes in part that directors of major corporations seek greater organizational authority and visibility for their chief ethics and chief compliance officers. This reflects the surveyed directors’ (i) increasing concern with ethics and compliance issues; (ii) interest in developing stronger relationships with these senior officers; (iii) desire that these officers have more stature and standing, and access to greater resources; and (iv) overarching uncertainty as to the correct governance “home” for ethics and cultural oversight.