Boards have become larger but controlling for other things, less independent (have fewer independent directors) after the crisis. Much of this seems to be the result of a “supply shock” in which independent directors have become more aware of the risks associated with board positions. In the three weeks of January 2009 after the Satyam fraud came to light, independent director exits soared to 109 from a monthly average of about 30 before the crisis. Over a longer horizon, independent director exits per year have risen by 20% in the post-Satyam period as compared to the three years before the crisis…
Executive director appointments have more than doubled in the post-Satyam period than before. Their proportion on boards has risen by 16%. (The drop in the number of independent directors in boardrooms bodes ill for corporate governance, FT, 8/20/2011)
Indian Boards should consider expanding their horizons, seeking directors from a much more diverse pool of creative professionals from outside their normal circles, including experts in social media, women and international candidates.
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