Directors to watch 2012: the drive to build true diversity--of experience, strengths, interests, skills, talents--beyond considerations of gender, race, national origin and other markers of difference, continues to set apart those boards and those corporations who truly embrace the benefits of a broad-ranging vision for the future.

AuthorChase, Scott
PositionDIRECTORS TO WATCH

Mary Pat McCarthy

Director, Mutual of Omaha

MARY PAT McCARTHY is a thought leader on corporate governance and audit committee effectiveness who recently joined the Mutual of Omaha board following a career at KPMG LLP, where she rose to the position of vice chair.

She served on the boards of the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Minnesota, Tech Museum of Innovation in Silicon Valley and Santa Clara University's Leavey Graduate School of Business. At KPMG she served on Management and Operations Committees and as executive director of the Audit Committee Institute.

McCarthy is a CPA and co-author of books on risk, strategy, and business transformation, and has contributed to National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) Blue Ribbon Commission Reports on Risk Governance, Performance Metrics, Lead Director Effectiveness, and Board Diversity.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Ensuring That Governance Is Keeping Pace: "I think the pace of change and sheer complexity of doing business today is causing boards to step back and take a fresh look at all of the company's key governance activities, from risk management and crisis readiness to strategic planning and regulatory compliance. Do all of these governance activities share a common view of the company's major risks and the plans to manage these risks? Are strategy, execution, and contingency plans calibrated based on this common view? In my previous role as an audit partner and executive director of KPMG's Audit Committee Institute, I could see boardroom conversations moving in this direction. And while there's no simple answer, just posing the question 'Is governance keeping pace?' is likely to spark a valuable discussion today."

Elaine J. Eisenman

Director, DSW Inc., Active International, Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates

AS DEAN OF EXECUTIVE and enterprise education at Babson College, Elaine J. Eisenman, Ph.D., is responsible for the strategy and growth of this top-rated division, focusing on custom programs for corporate clients and for programs in entrepreneurship for schools, family businesses, growing businesses, and foundations. She is also responsible for the management of the award-winning Babson Executive Conference Center.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Eisenman has served on public company boards since 1996, when she joined the United States Tobacco board. She currently is a board member of specialty retailer DSW Inc., marketing firm Active International, and Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, a designated accountable care organization. Additionally, she is a founding member and member of the advisory boards of WomenCorporateDirectors and The Belizean Grove. In 2010, she was selected by Agenda Magazine as a Top 100 Diversity Board Member.

Eisenman has held senior executive positions at public companies such as American Express, Enhance Financial Services Co., and The Children's Place, and private companies such as PDI International and Management & Capital Partners, where she was chairman.

Opportunity Cost Is Also a Risk "I worry that the charge to directors to identify and prevent all downside outcomes from risks may be the biggest risk of all. We live in a time of uncertainty with little ability to accurately predict all the economic and political issues that may affect the outcome of decisions made. Yet, as directors, our duty is to protect the interests of our shareholders, which requires a high level of understanding of not only the potential outcomes and consequences, both...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT