Unit 4 Simulation · Governance

Crisis Management in the Boardroom

22 real cases from Fortune 500 and global household names: what caused the crisis, what the board did, and the lesson. Tap a category.

The board’s crisis playbook

1
ConveneForm a crisis committee of independent directors; meet as often as needed.
2
Get the factsCommission an independent investigation with outside counsel.
3
CommunicateSpeak early and honestly to staff, regulators, customers and investors.
4
Hold to accountDecide on the CEO, clawbacks and terminations “for cause”.
5
Fix governanceAdd expertise, split chair/CEO, create safety, risk or cyber committees.

Timeline, 2001–2025

CultureFraudCEO Exit & FailureCyber & SecurityEconomy & Financial Shock
2001Enron
2004McDonald’s
2008Lehman Brothers
2009General Motors
2013Target
2015Theranos
2015Volkswagen
2016Wells Fargo
2017Equifax
2017Maersk
2017Uber
2019Boeing
2019McDonald’s
2020Airbnb
2020Wirecard
2022Disney
2023OpenAI
2023Silicon Valley Bank
2024UnitedHealth · Change
2025Jaguar Land Rover
2025Marks & Spencer
2025Nestlé

Every case links to its source (BBC, Reuters, AP, CNN, Fortune, NPR, CBS, PBS and others). Figures as reported at the time.