Financial Times: Cultural matters: “And as Antony Burgmans, chairman of Unilever, points out: "The leader sets the tone” (ShellNews.net)

By Martin Dickson

Published: August 12 2004 05:00 | Last updated: August 12 2004 05:00

It is good news Royal Dutch/Shell has in principle agreed to unify its two boards. That is the least that its review of corporate governance should do. There had been fears of footdragging, but the company is evidently going beyond investor expectations in examining more radical restructurings, including a full merger of the Dutch and British holding companies. That may or may not be practical, but amid all the structural changes we should not lose sight of the fact that the group's problems are partly cultural. And as Antony Burgmans, chairman of Unilever, points out: "The leader sets the tone."