Final answer:
The chief audit executive or the external assessor is responsible for communicating the results of the internal audit assessment to the board of directors, who oversee the company's governance and financial integrity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Following an external assessment of the internal audit activity, it is the responsibility of the chief audit executive or the external assessor to communicate the results to the board of directors. The board is the primary body in charge of corporate governance and oversight, and receiving the results of the assessment falls under their duty to oversee the financial and internal control processes of the organization they serve. The external audit is an essential feature of corporate governance, providing an independent review of the company’s financial records alongside internal audit functions.
These activities are critical to ensure that shareholders as well as outside investors, who rely on accurate financial information, can trust in the company's disclosures. Proper communication of the results of such assessments also aids in maintaining transparency and accountability within corporate governance. This is crucial, considering historical failures such as in the case of Lehman Brothers, where lapses in corporate governance and the communication thereof led to a loss of investor confidence and financial chaos.