Nominating committees casting a wider net.

• Author: Harwerth, Noel
• Position: DIRECTOR RECRUITMENT

Nominating committees have a crucial role to play in board governance and they are taking that role very seriously. Gone are the days when members of board nominating committees turn to their club directories to find a suitable candidate to fill a vacant board seat. While nominating committees will frequently source their personal contacts when looking to fill a board vacancy, it is usually in terms of seeking referrals to find qualified candidates with specific skill sets.

When a vacancy occurs on the boards on which I have served, a full evaluation of the background required for the replacement is undertaken by the nominating committee. The committee may take the vacancy as an opportunity to add needed skills such as marketing or international expertise. Alternatively, the committee may be planning ahead and seeking to find someone with the scope of experience to step into the nonexecutive chairman's role--because maintaining the balance of the board and planning board succession are key responsibilities of the committee.

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Boards that are balanced in terms of skill sets, gender and experience have proven to be the most effective...