Chairman and CEO: The Controversy Over Board Leadership Structure

One of the most controversial issues in corporate governance is whether the CEO of a corporation should also serve as chairman of the board. In theory, an independent board chair improves the ability of the board to oversee management. However, an independent chairman is not unambiguously positive, and can lead to duplication of leadership, impair decision making, and create internal confusion — particularly when an effective dual chairman/CEO is already in place.