Director Roundtable: Effective Board Leadership

June 4, 2014 | 8:30 - 10:00 am EDT

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With the increasing focus by investors on director accountability and quality, the question for boards and management is how to ensure that the company has the right people in the right leadership roles. In this Director Roundtable led by David Gelles of the New York Times DealBook, Jack Brennan and Michael Useem will speak to director and board quality, expectations of investors, and the leadership that they look for in and from directors.

Speakers

• John J. Brennan, Chairman Emeritus and Senior Advisor, The Vanguard Group; Director, General Electric, Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, LPL Financial Holdings Inc.; Lead Governor, FINRA Board of Governors
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• Michael Useem, William and Jacalyn Egan Professor of Management and Director of the Center for Leadership and Change Management, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
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Moderated by David Gelles, Reporter, The New York Times DealBook
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The Discussion

Program Materials

Impact of Board Dynamics on Shareholder Value Creation
February, 2014 | Director Notes
Aristotle’s maxim that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts is alive and well in the boardroom. This report shows that better team dynamics among board members produces better financial performance.

Board Accountability in the Current Governance Landscape
December 2013 | Director Notes
Institutional investors are looking more deeply into boardroom activities and are more willing to target individual directors deemed responsible for policy failures or poor performance.

Global Trends in Board-Shareholder Engagement
October 2013 | Director Notes
Notwithstanding the potential benefits of engaging shareholders, board directors hesitate to do it—sometimes, rightly so. Real-world examples serve as guidance for those trying to develop an effective engagement program.

Corporate Director Selection and Recruitment: A Matrix
May 2013 | Director Notes
Every board should agree on a clear statement of desired personal attributes for all board members to guide the nominating and governance committee as they search for director candidates.

The Conference Board Governance Center Director Roundtables are regular sessions focused on key issues that impact the boardroom. For upcoming programs, and to access past session, please visit http://www.conferenceboard.org/directorroundtables.

The Conference Board Governance Center’s public purpose work is made possible by virtue of funding support and thoughtful guidance from our corporate and investor members and sponsors.