Obsolescence should not be feared. While it signals the end of something familiar, it welcomes a new way forward. We have reached this crossroads with retained executive search. It is obsolete. Today, the retained executive search process is costly. Frequently, after lengthy recruiting processes, retained searches deliver new board members who fit poorly with the… Read More

During my daily work of representing C-Suite executives for their interest in independent directorships and partnering with corporate boards by providing them with vetted executives, it is clear to me that investor focus on board performance has reached new levels of intensity. Activist investors who have been historically assertive are now even more aggressive and… Read More

It seems to me that almost every executive I speak with aspires to serve on a corporate board. I must say by experience, achieving your first board seat, or even the second will likely be the most difficult, arduous task you will accomplish in your entire professional career. There are a multitude of reasons as… Read More

A fleeting moment and anything can change. We often think we have control of what is next, but often we are surprised, confused and found in a place for which we are not ready. There you are, in your executive role, with all indicators that you are performing, its working and everyone, including the board… Read More

Capturing your first or even second board seat can take a very long time, a lot of persistence, perseverance and patience. It may have happened for your friend, colleague or neighbor faster than it is happening for you.  If your reason for serving on a corporate board is to compete with your contemporaries or serve… Read More

Over nine years ago, while I was practicing retained executive search in a large firm and a boutique, it became clear to me that retained executive search is broken. On a daily basis, I was receiving calls and requests, asking if I could flip the retained search model.  Was there a better model? Well, I… Read More

In a prior post, I outlined the components of board of director’s compensation as well as some high points regarding the ranges of compensation in most publicly traded mid-cap companies. In today’s post, I will take a deeper dive into board compensation. This primer is applicable to mid-market companies across several industries including technology, healthcare, manufacturing, real… Read More