Board leadership split keeps growing.

• Position: Director Data - Brief article

CEOs and board chairs are increasingly not sitting in the same seat.

* 52% of the largest U.S. companies now separate the positions of CEO and board chair, marking the first time a majority of Fortune 500 companies have split these leadership roles.

Figure 1. Prevalence of Fortune 500 companies with a separate CEO and board chair Current 52% 2014 46% 2012 45% 2010 39% 2008 37% 2006 32% Source: Willis Towers Watson's Executive Compensation Resources Note: Table made from bar graph. * 32% separated the positions a decade ago.

* 37% of current stand-alone board chairs previously served as CEO of the same company, and 64% of these individuals currently serve as an executive rather than as non-executive director chair.

* Total pay for a non-executive chair, including fees received for serving as a regular non-employee director, is...