The board has an annual plan for its work. It includes recurring topics such as a review of board procedures, competency, priorities, collaboration with the company's management, strategy review, business planning as well as HSE and CSR, including risk and compliance oversight. The board has also used significant time on the Vale transaction. This included strategic positioning, valuation, negotiation mandate for the transaction and recommendations for Hydro's general meeting of shareholders and corporate assembly. The board visited Hydro's smelter in Høyanger, Norway, and participated in the opening of Qatalum in Qatar. The latter visit included follow-up of both Qatalum and working conditions for the construction workers. The board was also involved in evaluating market developments and Hydro's capacity adjustments, including continuous evaluation of curtailed capacity.
In 2010, the board also made a self-assessment and a separate assessment of the board's chairperson. Both were presented to the nomination committee.
The board held 21 meetings in 2010 with an attendance of 94 percent. The compensation committee held five meetings and the audit committee eight meetings.
Liv Monica Bargem Stubholt and Eva Persson were elected new board members on May 7, replacing Heidi M. Petersen who stepped down as per the same date, and Grete Faremo who stepped down from the board on October 21, 2009. As per February 28, 2011 Tito Botehlo Martins Jr. entered the board of directors as a 10th board member.
