Board-CEO Relationships Are Good But Challenged

BoardSpan 2025 Board Performance Benchmark Report (Sep 15, 2025) "Board-CEO Relationships Are Good But Challenged" finds board-CEO relationship scores rank in the top half of nearly 60 governance performance dimensions measured in 2025 — trust remains high, yet alignment with management is challenging. Specific tensions: boards drifting into operational decisions undermine CEO authority, generate team confusion, slow work, harm morale and can drive CEO exit; CEOs respond poorly to board tones suggesting directors think they could do the job better. Recommendations: clearly articulate which responsibilities belong to board, management or shared; run an annual CEO review covering hard and soft skills with constructive feedback after every board meeting; respond professionally and empathetically to unexpected news to encourage ongoing transparency. Direct frame for SEA mid-market boards.