Spencer Stuart US Board Index 2007
The Spencer Stuart Board Index is an annual study that examines the state of corporate governance among the S&P 500. The 2007 index looks at the way governance has changed since the Sarbanes-Oxley Act five years ago. Among other findings, this year’s study points to a change in how boards are approaching new director recruitment and identifying director candidates. As a result of these changes, the boardroom composition is beginning to look different, including:
- Fewer active CEOs. Active CEOs make up one-third of all new independent directors in 2007, down from 41% in 2002 and 53% in 2000.
- More executives from the next level down. Leaders of major business divisions and functions account for 21% of new directors, compared with just 7% in 2002.
- More first-time directors. Nearly one-third of all new directors are serving on an outside public company board for the first time.
- Greater diversity — but still not as great as boards would like. Close to 16% of all independent directors in the S&P 500 companies are women, versus 12% in 2002. The majority of the boards we surveyed are eager to increase the number of women and minority directors.
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