A hairy issue for today’s executive

The best known business beards – Branson, Sir Alan Sugar, Larry Ellison and Felix Dennis – all belong in the category of mavericks

Moral maze for retailers

Is it possible for companies with suppliers in developing economies to guarantee goods have been produced in ethically acceptable conditions?

Will oil prices force managers to tear up the business model?

Managers in fuel-hungry businesses have to decide whether to ride out the period in hope of an easing in prices

How to limit the damage from gaffes of star promoters

What are the pitfalls for organisations that associate their names with high-profile people whose persona turns sour?

How can we tell if a CEO has too much on his plate?

Renault/Nissan failed to achieve targets set by the chief executive. How should one judge the limits of a CEO’s responsibilities? When does a job become too big for one person?

Curse of the ‘stick around’ bonus

Could executive retention bonuses ever be worth the investor backlash they generated at Shell and BP?

From beyond the grave

How far should former CEOs such as Jack Welch go in speaking out about their successors?

What stops a troubled partnership getting worse?

What can be done to stop business partners falling out, and how can bridges be mended to remedy such a situation?

Should rewards be given to executives in a downturn?

How can remuneration committees ensure that executives are not rewarded for poor performance without penalising management for the wider economic malaise?

Can banks stop the risk-takers from running out of control?

Boards that face a call to put executives on the block