Director Independence
 In most roles, there are one or two requirements that are critical and must be considered "non-negotiable". In the case of Board Directors, I’d have to say that requirement is independence.
The primary role of a Director is to provide expert oversight to the executive team in order to gain a broad, balanced perspective in shaping the vision and direction of the organization. This can’t be achieved if by Directors with partisan relationships, political agendas or other pressures influencing their decision making and judgment. Therefore, one of the primary considerations in assessing a Director’s suitability for a role is whether they've demonstrated independent thinking in their career and life, i.e. taking calculated risks, fighting for necessary change, or standing firm against popular opinion.
Clearly, there are many important attributes required for Directors, but if you want a realistic, objective opinion based on expertise and solid judgment, then independence is your most important, non-negotiable criteria.
Graham Carver, President
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Cambridge Management Blog
by Graham Carver, President
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