A guide to good governance for startups

A guide to good governance for startups

Dr. Mussaad M. Al-Razouki is the chief investment and business development officer of Kuwait Life Sciences Company. He has over 15 years of experience in venture capital and private equity investment with a focus on healthcare and technology.

The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), is the largest public pension fund in the United States of America and one of the world’s most influential investors; with ~$470 billion of assets under management. 

CalPERS recently submitted a regulatory filing that would support a proposal by the National Legal and Policy Center that Berkshire Hathaway’s board chair should be independent. A role that is currently held by legendary investor Warren Buffet, who is also Berkshire’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). If passed, the notion would disqualify Mr. Buffett from running for the Chairmanship at the upcoming Berkshire General Assembly. More on that later.

The National Legal and Policy Center has also filed measures arguing that the chair should be an independent member of the board at a variety of companies (many also partly owned by CalPERS and Berkshire) including Goldman Sachs, Coca-Cola, Mondelez International, Salesforce.com and Home Depot.

According to consulting firm Spencer Stuart, companies are increasingly deciding not to have their chief executives serve as chair. As of