Sarbanes-Oxley and the Board of Directors
Chapter One
A Sturdy Framework
You have worked hard your entire career, reached the pinnacle of
your profession, obtained the respect of your peers and community,
assured yourself financial success, and are recognized as an outstanding
alumni by your alma mater. Then you get a call to take on a
new job that is time consuming, will test your character, and can
destroy your reputation and wealth. As unappealing as that sounds,
it happens every day and many do not hesitate to answer the call.
The offer of sitting on the board of directors for a public company
is often viewed as the culmination of a successful career. The
self-esteem, social recognition, and business networking opportunities
might be all that come to mind when such an offer is made. Smart
executives will also carefully consider the risks. They assess the
health of both the business and the board. They evaluate whether
they can truly contribute as a director. They recognize that if they
accept, the job will require homework to make certain that they are
prepared to perform their duties according to the highest principles
and implement practices that will protect their reputation and ens ... read full excerpt from Sarbanes-Oxley and the Board of Directors: Techniques and Best Practices for Corporate Governance ebook
