It appears that Mark Bouris's financial underperformer, Yellow Brick Road, has managed to scratch up enough dough to send the team from its mortgage aggregator, Vow Financial, to the Canadian ski resort of Whistler.

So Vow's annual conference begins this weekend at a venue where going downhill is a good thing – handy that.

"This is one of the most sought-after destinations for skiing and mountain biking in the world," said Vow chief executive Tim Brown, in one of the blurbs enticing its 1000-plus network of brokers to join them on the ski slopes.

Not that it's all whistling.

"We are bringing you some amazing local talent and our usual suspects from the Vow and YBR management team and network will be here to present," Brown said.

The Vow boss even quoted a North American political leader to excite the troops ahead of the big event – but, no, despite The Apprentice connection, it was not the US TV show's famous star, Donald Trump.

"This year's theme is 'Discover what you are made of' and one of Canada's most famous Prime Ministers Pierre Trudeau once said, 'Liberalism is the philosophy for our time, because it does not try to conserve every tradition of the past, because it does not apply to new problems the old doctrinaire solutions, because it is prepared to experiment and innovate and because it knows that the past is less important than the future'."

There is a lesson there for YBR investors: where the share price is now – a year low of 17c – is not as important as where it will be in the future.

Or as Bouris told YBR investors in the Annual Report about its dismal year:

"As a major shareholder I, like you, am disappointed. Nonetheless, I am confident that the foundation we have laid for the company has put us in an excellent position to deliver better financial outcomes moving forward."

CBD is waiting to hear whether Bouris will be attending the event in person, or whistling from his desk like the rest of us. 

Taxi queue 

After a tumultuous two years as Cabcharge chairman, former ABC boss Russell Balding has decided it is time to hand over the keys to what is now a very swish operation – just ask Balding.

"During his stewardship Mr Balding presided over the significant improvement to the company's corporate governance framework, enhanced transparency of its financial disclosures and navigation through a period of regulatory change and technological disruption," the company said.

Honestly, the late Reg Kermode would not recognise the place.

But now for a word from Balding on just what a swish job he did building a strong governance culture:

"As part of that journey we updated our Board and Committee Charters, introduced minimum shareholding guidelines for directors ... and enhanced the structure and transparency of our remuneration practices," Balding said.

This led to a momentous event at last year's shareholder meeting. All proxy advisers had recommended a vote in favour of Cabcharge's remuneration report for the first time since taxi plates were invented.

"Shareholders – for the first time in seven years – endorsed our progress with a majority exceeding 75 per cent," boasted Balding. Which might be another way of saying investors did not vote for an eighth consecutive strike against its remuneration report.

His CEO Andrew Skelton also contributed to the beatification of Balding.

"Cabcharge has clearly transformed under Russell's chairmanship. He has been instrumental in enabling management to make the changes that Cabcharge so clearly needed to be an effective participant in the future personal transport market," Skelton said.

The only thing missing from the momentous announcement was the announcement of who exactly will replace Balding as chairman when he steps down after the November 24 AGM.

Apparently an announcement will be made in the fullness of time – which sounds a lot more like the Cabcharge CBD has known for so long.

Ardent Chair 

And let's not forget Ardent Leisure chairman, Neil Balnaves, who also announced Monday that next month's AGM will be his last.

It might provide an opportunity for his CEO, former Womens Weekly editor Deborah Thomas, to get a word in edgewise – but not yet.

"The appointment of George Venardos as my successor as chairman will ensure that the board remains focused on maximising value for shareholders," Balnaves said.

Got a tip? ckruger@fairfaxmedia.com.au