02 September 2026
Stewardship is one of the few real levers asset owners have over the companies they invest in, but stewardship ambitions have been retreating in recent years. So what still works, and what should schemes and institutional investors be doing differently?
In this episode, Amy Sutherland is joined by Sanjay Joshi and Catherine Howarth OBE, chief executive of ShareAction, to explore why stewardship still matters and where it may be falling short. They discuss the case for votes against directors over shareholder resolutions, including a notable example from this year's NatWest Annual General Meeting. They also examine why bondholder stewardship remains underused and why investors may need to engage with AI firms before they go public.
The discussion also covers NEST's Member Assembly and what it could mean for member representation as schemes consolidate. Listeners will come away with practical actions to help trustees and asset owners strengthen stewardship and hold managers and consultants to account.
If you have any questions on anything covered throughout the episode, please get in touch.
This podcast has been prepared by Hymans Robertson LLP, and is based upon our understanding of events as at release date. It is designed to be a general summary of topical investment matters and is not specific to the circumstances of any particular employer or pension scheme. The information contained in this podcast should not be construed as advice and not be considered as a substitute for specific advice as the information is generic in nature. Where a podcast refers to legal matters please note that Hymans Robertson is not qualified to provide legal opinion and therefore you may wish to obtain independent legal advice to consider any relevant law and/or regulation. Hymans Robertson LLP accepts no liability for errors or omissions. Your Hymans Robertson LLP consultant will be pleased to discuss matters raised in this podcast in greater detail. Guests views are separate to that of Hymans Robertson.
The information provided in this broadcast is not financial advice. Past performance is not a guide to the future. Please note the value of investments, and income from them, may fall as well as rise. This includes but is not limited to equities, government or corporate bonds, derivatives and property, whether held directly or in a pooled or collective investment vehicle. Further, investments in developing or emerging markets may be more volatile and less marketable than in mature markets. Exchange rates may also affect the value of investments. As a result, an investor may not get back the full amount of the original investment. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to future performance.
Hymans Robertson LLP is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Licensed by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries for a range of investment business activities.
Chief Executive, ShareAction
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