Janine Brown, partner-in-charge of the firm’s Atlanta office, conducted a Q&A with the Atlanta Business Chronicle about the qualities and skills that make up a good board member.
“From a legal perspective, a board member has the responsibility of providing direction and guidance to the management in the business and affairs of the company,” Brown told the publication. “There are fiduciary obligations for board members of public companies and private companies to put the corporation’s interests ahead of all else, and certainly shareholders’ [interests ahead of all else].”
Brown also spoke about the important role played by boards, saying they help ensure “the public has confidence in what the organization is doing. And there are a variety of constituencies that are looking at what the corporation is doing and how the board fulfills its role.”
Brown added that what makes a good board member is not only significant knowledge and experience but also “someone who is a very careful listener. I think that you certainly find at the board table it's important to understand all the perspectives that are being expressed.”
“From a legal perspective, a board member has the responsibility of providing direction and guidance to the management in the business and affairs of the company,” Brown told the publication. “There are fiduciary obligations for board members of public companies and private companies to put the corporation’s interests ahead of all else, and certainly shareholders’ [interests ahead of all else].”
Brown also spoke about the important role played by boards, saying they help ensure “the public has confidence in what the organization is doing. And there are a variety of constituencies that are looking at what the corporation is doing and how the board fulfills its role.”
Brown added that what makes a good board member is not only significant knowledge and experience but also “someone who is a very careful listener. I think that you certainly find at the board table it's important to understand all the perspectives that are being expressed.”