Governance as a Catalyst: Episode 8 – Unlocking NRC Effectiveness in the GCC (Part 2)
In this two-part episode of the ecap Rewards Podcast mini-series, Sandrine Bardot, Rewards Senior Managing Partner at ecap, continues her conversation with Abrar Khodari, Head of Human Capital at Xenel Industries Ltd. and Secretary to the Nomination and Remuneration Committee (NRC).
With over 15 years’ experience shaping HR strategy across aviation, retail, and family-owned groups in Saudi Arabia, Abrar shares practical insight into what makes NRCs truly effective in today’s evolving GCC governance landscape.
“Governance maturity is no longer optional – it is fundamental to sustainable transformation.”
The Changing Mandate of the NRC
As governance expectations continue to rise across the region, the role of the NRC has evolved well beyond oversight of executive remuneration. Today, it plays a central role in leadership capability, succession depth, organisational culture, and long-term performance alignment.
National transformation agendas such as Saudi Vision 2030 have accelerated this shift. Boards are expected to demonstrate greater transparency, stronger succession planning, and clearer alignment between reward and strategy.
This expanded remit requires:
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Deeper expertise within the committee
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Structured induction and development for independent members
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A strategic, not transactional, partnership between HR and the board
Effective NRCs are no longer compliance-led. They are capability-led.
Strategic Impact and Future-Ready NRCs
Continuing the conversation, part two explores how NRCs move from procedural oversight to strategic impact.
In Part 2, the discussion covers:
- Navigating emotional and strategic dynamics in family-owned and private businesses
- Why independent NRC members need practical skills, not just prestige
- Using compensation as a strategic tool: balancing culture, transparency, and market data
- Moving HR-NRC partnerships from transactional reporting to collaborative guidance
- How UAE and Saudi NRCs are evolving under Vision 2030 to drive maturity and transformation
- Building future-ready NRCs with structured frameworks, competencies, and forward-looking advisors
“Future-ready NRCs combine structured processes, deep expertise, and forward-looking insight.”
Closing Reflection
For board members, CHROs, and governance professionals across the GCC, these two episodes offer actionable guidance on strengthening NRC capability in a rapidly evolving regulatory and business environment. The message is clear: governance should not sit at the periphery of performance. When structured effectively, it becomes a catalyst – shaping leadership quality, reinforcing accountability, and enabling sustainable transformation.
Watch both parts of Episode 8 to understand how governance can move beyond procedural oversight to strategic impact.
Connect and Learn More
- Connect with Sandrine Bardot: sandrine@teamecap.com
- Discover ecap rewards: Visit the ecap Rewards page
