Facing pressure from shareholders, regulators, and economic forces and also seeking to improve the performance of corporate boards, US companies came up with a solution to corporate governance and leadership issues with the concept of a lead director. Since its inception, the lead director role has grown in importance and influence. A lead director is particularly helpful in focusing the board’s talent and wisdom when difficult situations arise: management performance and succession, risk management, mergers and acquisitions, and a host of other internal and external matters. We compiled survey and other data to look at lead directors’ backgrounds, what they.
