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Company Formation FAQ - The Secretary of a Private Company

Previously all companies are required to have a company secretary. The Companies Act 2006 provides that private companies no longer are required to have a company secretary. However, if a private company decides to appoint a company secretary, then the authority of a private company secretary will be the same as that of a public one. Therefore, the appointment of a company secretary to a private company must be notified to the registrar of companies and be recorded in the company's register of secretaries.

While the legislation does not generally specify the role of the company secretary, the company secretary might normally undertake the following duties: -

As the secretary is an officer of the company, they may be criminally liable for defaults committed by the company. For example failure to file - in the time allowed - any change in the details of the company's directors and secretary, and the company's annual return.