Catégorie : Business News

In the days since UnitedHealthcare chief executive Brian Thompson was tragically targeted and killed by a gunman on a New York City street, we have seen an alarming outpouring of vitriol against the company, its leaders, and other insurers. While many condemned the violence and offered condolences to the CEO’s family and colleagues, those messages were often drowned out by a chorus of complaints about denied claims, paltry reimbursement, and corporate greed.

Last year’s Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) default brought the topic of corporate board makeup and tenure to the fore. At SVB, five directors out of 12 had a tenure of less than three years, with three of them having served for less than 12 months at the time of the collapse. Seven directors had served 13 years or more, and no director had specific banking experience prior to the appointment of Thomas King just a few months before the default.

The role of the CFO has evolved far beyond traditional financial management. Today’s CFOs are pivotal strategic leaders, focusing on three core responsibilities: optimally allocating capital, sustaining and deepening sources of competitive advantage, and managing risk. Their expanded scope makes them natural contenders for CEO positions. In 2023, CFOs filled 8.4% of CEO vacancies at Fortune 500 and S&P 500 firms — the highest on record.