Glass Lewis recently published its inaugural Institutional Investor Stewardship Report, which surveyed approximately ‍60 asset managers and asset owners across Europe (49%), North America (44%), and APAC (7%). Survey participants represented a range of firm sizes, investment approaches, and stewardship structures. Here are the key takeaways:

– Hybrid stewardship models are now the norm: Nearly two-thirds (65%) of respondents combine baseline portfolio expectations with deeper engagement on select holdings.

– Integration is a work in progress: While 88% report some integration between voting and engagement, a significant share of organizations still operate with fragmented workflows. Nearly half (49%) rely on spreadsheets or general-purpose tools to track engagement.

– Data and accountability as key enablers: Investors highlighted stronger feedback loops with investment teams (44%), credible escalation strategies (41%), and improved data management (36%) as priorities for improved stewardship.

– Regional differences in priorities: European investors place greater emphasis on sustainability themes, while North American investors continue to focus more on traditional governance issues.

– John Jenkins