Directors roster.

• Position: New corporate directors appointed between July and September 1998

In affiliation with Spencer Stuart - a quarterly record of new director appointments

Does it make sense to limit the number of boards on which a director may serve? While proponents of this practice assert claims of its legitimacy, several directors featured in this edition's roster say their case is clearly flawed.

If you had to recruit new outside directors for your company's board and shared the views put forth by groups like the NACD and CalPERS, your candidates would most likely have to meet the criterion of serving on only two or three other boards. Would you then preclude someone of the stature and government relations expertise of Sen. George J. Mitchell? How about Max D. Hopper, an acclaimed information technology expert? Or investment guru John J. Rogers Jr.? All three of these multiboard directors recently accepted invitations to take on yet another directorship.

Sen. Mitchell tells DIRECTORS & BOARDS that when Thomas G. Stemberg, chairman and CEO of Staples Inc., learned he was interested in joining his board, the issue of his six other directorships was never even discussed. Says Mitchell bluntly, "I don't think you can simply look at the number of boards in isolation. There are other factors to be considered."

Among the factors to consider when recruiting multiboard directors, say the three we spoke with, include: a director's activity level; the number of times the board meets; whether the board will pose any conflicts of interest problems; and, whether the location of where meetings are held is convenient. In addition, they agree that most people selected for boards have the ability to manage their time effectively, and also know when to trim their activity.

Hopper, now a technology consultant after a 20-year career at AMR Corp., has joined the board of United Stationers, North America's largest wholesaler of business products to resellers. He says the number of his directorships (six prior to United Stationers) was discussed during his nomination. Nonetheless, he says, what really mattered were several other factors, including the quality of the referrals recommending him to Frederick B. Hegi Jr., the chairman of United Stationers; that he fit the criterion of someone with an extensive background in information technology and electronic commerce...