8 Questions to Ask Before Selecting a New Board Leader

Board leadership is more important than ever. Here’s how to ensure you take a thoughtful and disciplined approach to the process.

by

and

Michael Useem

by

and

Michael Useem

January 17, 2023

Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images

Summary.

Too many companies don’t apply the same rigor and analysis to selecting a board leader as they would for a new chief executive — and yet in today’s environment, board leadership is more important and urgent than ever. The authors, who have collectively interacted with more than a fifth of the governing boards of the Fortune 1000, suggest eight questions to ask to ensure a more thoughtful and disciplined process for selecting, evaluating, compensating, or removing a board leader.

Today’s corporate boards are under a lot of scrutiny. They must respond to activist shareholders, concerned employees, community members, and others in a hyper-sensitive political environment. They’re also tasked with ensuring diversity in their organizations, as well as their own ranks. Board leadership is more important — and urgent — than ever.

Dennis Carey is vice chairman of KornFerry and co-founder of ONYX, an invitation-only community for current and former CEOs of the world’s most influential corporations. He has recruited directors and CEOs for many of the most prestigious companies in America, served on several boards, taught corporate governance at the Wharton School, and co-authored seven books on strategy, talent, and risk. He founded the CEO Academy and ThePrium, both of which are best in class forums for corporate leaders. He has held post-doctoral fellowships at Harvard and Princeton.
Ram Charan serves on seven private and public boards across the globe and is author or coauthor of 36 books and several HBR articles on corporate governance. He is the co-author of Boards That Lead: When to Take Charge, When to Partner, and When to Stay Out of the Way.
JG

Joseph Griesedieck is vice chair of Korn Ferry and managing director of its board advisory practice in North America.
Michael Useem is faculty director of the Wharton Leadership Center and McNulty Leadership Program at the University of Pennsylvania. He is the co-author of Boards That Lead: When to Take Charge, When to Partner, and When to Stay Out of the Way.

8 Questions to Ask Before Selecting a New Board Leader

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