7. BOARD COMPOSITION
Board size
The composition of the Board is governed primarily by the Bank Act, which sets out requirements relating to the
qualifications, number, affiliation and Canadian residency of directors. The optimal size for the Board represents a
balance between two opposing needs: a business need for strong geographical, professional and industry sector
representation; and the need to be small enough to facilitate open and effective dialogue and decision-making. Under
RBC’s By-laws, the Board may fix the number of directors between the range of 7 (the minimum number of directors
required by the Bank Act) and 26. Each year, the Governance Committee reviews the optimal size of the Board and
makes recommendations to the Board on its size, taking into consideration legal requirements, succession planning
and scheduled director retirements, best practices, skills required to complement the Board’s skill set, and the optimal
number of directors needed to discharge the duties of the Board and its committees.
Independence of the Board
As a Canadian financial services company listed on the TSX and NYSE, RBC is subject to various guidelines,
requirements and disclosure rules governing independence of the Board and its committees, including additional
independence criteria for members of the Audit Committee and the Human Resources Committee. A substantial
majority of RBC directors are independent.
To assist it in making determinations as to the independence of directors, the Board has adopted the Director
Independence Policy, which contains categorical standards of independence regarding such matters as:
business and lending relationships between RBC and directors, their spouses and their businesses;
receipt of payments from or provision of goods or services to RBC;
relationships between directors and their family members and the auditor of RBC; and
donations by RBC to charities with which directors are associated.
The Director Independence Policy incorporates criteria from the “affiliated persons” regulations under the Bank Act and
the definition of “independence” in the CSA Guidelines. A director will be considered independent only if the director is
unaffiliated with RBC and the Board has affirmatively determined that the director has no direct or indirect material
relationship with RBC. A material relationship is a relationship which could, in the view of the Board, be reasonably
expected to interfere with the exercise of independent judgment.
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Interlocking directorships
The Board limits the number of common memberships on boards of public companies on which directors may serve.
No more than two Board members may sit on the same public company board.
Evaluating candidates for the Board
The Board derives its strength from the background, diversity, qualities, skills and experience of its members.
Diversity is a key priority and is embedded in all Board recruitment considerations. Nominees are selected for such
qualities as integrity and ethics, business judgment, independence, business or professional expertise, international
experience and residency, and familiarity with geographic regions relevant to RBC’s strategic priorities.
The Governance Committee has oversight responsibility for Board renewal. In consultation with the Board Chair, the
Committee considers all qualified candidates identified by members of the Board, management and shareholders. The
Committee monitors the current and future profile of the Board. It maintains a matrix identifying areas of experience
and expertise contributed by each director and annually reviews the suitability of director nominees. With a view to the
longer term strategic focus of RBC, it determines the competencies, experience and skills it should seek in new Board
members.
The Committee reviews each candidate’s biographical information and assesses each candidate’s integrity and
suitability against criteria that have been developed by the Committee in accordance with OSFI Guideline E-17 and
RBC’s Assessment of Responsible Persons Policy. It conducts and considers the results of background checks and
internal and external due diligence reviews.
In making recommendations to the Board regarding potential director candidates, the Committee considers whether
the candidate:
has demonstrated, in personal and professional dealings, integrity, high ethical standards and commitment to the
values expressed in RBC’s Code of Conduct;
is likely to take an independent approach and to provide a balanced perspective;
has specific skills, expertise or experience that would complement those already represented on the Board;
is financially literate and able to read financial statements and other indices for evaluating corporate performance;
has a history of achievements that demonstrates the ability to perform at the highest level and that reflects high
standards for himself or herself and for others;
has a background that includes business, government, professional, non-profit or other experience that is indicative
of sound judgment and the ability to provide thoughtful advice;
possesses knowledge and appreciation of public issues and exhibits familiarity with international, as well as
national and local affairs; and
has sufficient time and energy to devote to the performance of duties as a member of the Board, having regard to
positions the candidate holds in other organizations and other business and personal commitments.
Board diversity
Aligned with RBC’s core values, including “Diversity for growth and innovation”, the Board recognizes the benefits of
promoting diversity, both within RBC and at the level of the Board of Directors. In this regard, the Board has in place a
diversity objective that at least 30% of Board members should be women. The Committee will focus on gender and
non-gender diversity when considering candidates for nomination to the Board.
Majority voting policy
In an uncontested election of directors, any nominee who receives a greater number of votes “withheld” than votes
“for” will tender a resignation to the Chair of the Board promptly following the annual meeting. The Governance
Committee will consider the offer of resignation and, except in special circumstances, will recommend that the Board
accept the resignation. The Board will make its decision and announce it in a press release within 90 days following
the annual meeting, including the reasons for rejecting the resignation, if applicable.
Director tenure
To balance the benefits of experience with the need for new perspectives, the Board has in place tenure limits that
seek to achieve ongoing renewal. Directors will not be re-nominated for election at an annual meeting after reaching
the earlier of (i) age 70 or (ii) 15 years of service on the Board. The 15-year term for directors who joined the Board
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prior to May 27, 2011 is calculated starting on the date of the 2012 Annual Meeting. New directors will be permitted to
serve for at least six years, regardless of age. In exceptional circumstances if it is in the best interests of RBC, the
Board has the discretion to recommend a director for re-election for additional terms of up to five years after age 70 or
the expiration of the 15-year term. This decision is subject to annual review by the Board and re-election by the
shareholders.
In addition, a director is expected to submit his or her resignation to the Chair of the Board for determination by the
Board upon recommendation of the Governance Committee where:
the credentials underlying the appointment of the director change;
there is a change to the director’s principal occupation;
the director does not meet eligibility rules under the Board’s conflict of interest guidelines; or
the director is no longer qualified under the Bank Act or other applicable laws.
8. BOARD OPERATIONS
Non-executive Board Chair
The Board Chair is an independent director who is responsible for the management, development and effective
functioning of the Board and provides leadership in every aspect of its work. The Board Chair does not serve as a
member of any Board committee but attends and participates at Committee meetings. The Board Chair has
unrestricted access to management, as well as the authority to engage, at the expense of RBC, independent advisors,
including legal counsel, and to approve the fees and terms of their engagement. Tenure of the Board Chair is eight
years, with a review after five years to plan for orderly succession, subject to annual re-appointment by the Board.
The Board Chair works closely with the Governance Committee on such key matters as:
evaluation procedures for and assessments of the Board, its committees, committee Chairs and individual Board
members;
Board succession planning and recruitment of directors;
succession planning for committee Chairs and for the Board Chair.
The Board reviews and approves any changes to the written position description for the non-executive Board Chair.
The Governance Committee, under the direction of the Governance Committee Chair, annually assesses the
effectiveness of the Board Chair in fulfilling the requirements of the position description.
Conflicts of interest
Where the personal or business relationships or interests of directors and executive officers may conflict with those of
RBC, they are required to disclose in writing, or by requesting to have it entered in the minutes of the meeting, the
nature and extent of any interest they have in a material contract or material transaction with RBC. In the event of a
conflict of interest, the director or executive officer will leave the relevant portion of the meeting and the director will not
vote or participate in the decision.
Meeting attendance
Board members are expected to attend the Board meetings and meetings of committees on which they serve, as well
as eac