Leading boards in turbulent times for public companies
Most US public companies have appointed an independent, non-executive director to lead the independent board members. Whether called lead or presiding director or non-executive chair, these board leaders play a vital role in strengthening corporate governance. Even where the board has a CEO who is also the chair, the independent lead director is often called to step forward in moments of crisis, such as a hostile takeover attempt or an activist intervention.
The Lead Director Network (LDN) is a group of leading independent directors from America’s most successful companies who share a commitment to improving corporate performance and earning shareholder trust through more effective board leadership. LDN members gather several times each year to candidly and thoughtfully address critical issues confronting their boards and their companies.
Our members include:
- Alan Bennett – Lead Director, TJX and Flour
- Mike Calbert – Non-Executive Chair, PVH and Dollar General
- Ted Craver – Lead Director, Duke Energy
- H. James Dallas – Non-Executive Chair, Centene
- Karen Francis DeGolia – Non-Executive Chair, Vontier
- Marcela Donadio – Lead Director, Marathon Oil
- David Dorman – Non-Executive Chair, CVS Health
- Cynthia Egan – Lead Director, Huntsman and Hanover Insurance Group
- Curt Espeland – Lead Director, Lincoln Electric
- Donald Felsinger – Lead Director, Archer Daniels-Midland
- Mark Feidler – Non-Executive Chair, Equifax
- Lawton Fitt – Non-Executive Chair, Progressive and Carlyle Group
- Anne Gates – Non-Executive Chair, Tapestry Inc.
- Ann Fritz Hackett – Lead Director, Capital One
- Fritz Henderson – Lead Director, Marriott International and Arconic
- David Herzog – Lead Director, DXC Technology
- Michele Hooper – Lead Director, UnitedHealth
- Dr. Glenn Hubbard – Lead Director, MetLife
- Johnny Johns – Lead Director, Genuine Parts
- Molly Joseph – Non-Executive Chair, First Solar
- Susan Kilsby – Non-Executive Chair, Fortune Brands Innovations
- Madeleine Kleiner – Lead Director, Northrop Grumman
- Mel Lagomasino – Lead Director, Coca Cola
- Steve Leer – Lead Director, Parsons
- Stu Levenick – Lead Director, Entergy and WW Grainger
- General Les Lyles, USAF (Ret.) – Lead Director, KBR
- Jay Morse – Non-Executive Chair, AES
- Oscar Munoz – Non-Executive Director, Salesforce
- Bob Murley – Non-Executive Chair, Stericycle
- Suzanne Nimocks – Lead Director, Owens Corning
- Chuck Noski – Lead Director, Booking Holdings
- Stu Randle – Lead Director, Beacon Roofing Supply
- Joe Reece – Lead Director, NCR
- Pam Reeve – Non-Executive Chair, American Tower
- Jon Erik Reinhardsen – Non-Executive Chair, Equinor
- Stephen Rohleder – Non-Executive Chair, Cognizant
- Elaine Rosen – Non-Executive Chair, Kforce and Assurant
- Pat Russo – Lead Director, General Motors and Non-Executive Chair, Hewlett Packard Enterprise
- Ted Samuels – Lead Director, Bristol-Myers Squibb
- Bertram Scott – Non-Executive Chair, Dollar Tree, Equitable Holdings, Lowes, and Becton Dickinson & Co
- Doug Steenland – Lead Director, Hilton Worldwide
- Abhi Talwalkar – Non-Executive Chair, Lam Research
- Chris Thompson – Lead Director, Jacobs Solutions
- Bill Van Faasen – Lead Trustee, Eversource
- Tim Yates – Lead Director, CommScope
PUBLICATIONS
July 2023 On June 13, 2023, the Lead Director Network (LDN) met in New York City to discuss the current mergers-and-acquisitions (M&A) environment, as well as trends in investor activism
December 2022 In recent years, businesses have been faced with an array of novel crises. Today’s environment of 24/7 connectedness, combined with a societal breakdown in trust, puts pressure on
November 2022 Boards are under pressure from all corners to demonstrate their value. One key to board performance is building a culture of continuous improvement. To do so, many boards are takin
July 2022 Lead directors and nonexecutive chairs provide boards with a leader among equals. The tasks that board leaders perform have become more uniform over the years, though there remains
February 2022 Effective leadership is critical to the success of any business. The pandemic brought new leadership skills and capacities to the fore, including the need to be flexible, adaptable
June 2021 Given the ever-increasing pace, scope, and sophistication of the cyber threats facing every company, managing cyber risk is one of a board’s most challenging responsibilities. Duri
