Many individuals in the corporate world have an opinion on whether directors are serving on too many boards. As it’s a common belief that responsibilities and workloads are increasing for board members, that opinion is often that directors should be focusing on fewer than ever. 

Last month the giant UK betting company William Hill announced that it was replacing its existing Chief Executive with the company’s Chief Digital Officer, Ulrik Bengtsson. 

Analysts often claim that companies that do not ‘focus enough on their core activities’ are being run badly or even recklessly. But what does this really mean? Technology is advancing at a furious pace. Digitalising existing arrangements and streamlining current operations is no longer enough. What the vast majority of companies require is a digital transformation where we use technology as a driving force behind genuine change and restructuring. My argument, therefore, is that companies that are not developing in step with technological capabilities are operating recklessly.