June 12, 2012: Who should chair a Nominating committee?
Category: Governance
Posted by: David M Patt
Organizations of all sizes often designate the outgoing Board Chair or Immediate Past Chair (often by custom, not Bylaw) to head the Nominating Committee.
It is frequently felt that former Chairs are not running for any Board office and, therefore, have no conflict of interest. Former Chairs, it is thought, no longer have a vested interest in Board selection.
How untrue that is!
By chairing the Nominating Committee, former Chairs are in a position to leave a personal imprint on Board composition that may last for several terms into the future. In some cases, they may even display greater interest in Board selection than was evident during their terms of office.
Yes, a Nominating Committee Chair should be someone who does not have the opportunity to engineer his or her own election as a Director or Officer of the Board.
But the Board selection process may be even better led by someone who has not been involved in Board politics. In fact, an entire Nominating Committee that does not include any Board members or Board aspirants may work just fine.
It is frequently felt that former Chairs are not running for any Board office and, therefore, have no conflict of interest. Former Chairs, it is thought, no longer have a vested interest in Board selection.
How untrue that is!
By chairing the Nominating Committee, former Chairs are in a position to leave a personal imprint on Board composition that may last for several terms into the future. In some cases, they may even display greater interest in Board selection than was evident during their terms of office.
Yes, a Nominating Committee Chair should be someone who does not have the opportunity to engineer his or her own election as a Director or Officer of the Board.
But the Board selection process may be even better led by someone who has not been involved in Board politics. In fact, an entire Nominating Committee that does not include any Board members or Board aspirants may work just fine.
