The role of the company secretary
All public companies are obliged to have a company secretary. In April 2008, as a result of the Companies Act 2006, the post became optional for private companies unless their articles of association explicitly require them to have one. The information below offers a brief overview of the role.
Appointment: When a company secretary is appointed, Companies House must be notified together with any change of details or the termination of the appointment. Qualifications: In a public company, the directors must make sure, as far as is reasonably possible, that the secretary has "the requisite knowledge and experience to discharge the functions of secretary of the company". In addition, they must meet one or more of the following qualifications:
Join a thriving community of skilled directors and leaders
Ask us about membership
Better directors for a better world
The IoD supports directors and business leaders across the UK and beyond to learn, network and build successful, responsible businesses.
Structuring your business for success
Browse valuable company structure resources from the IoD.