All the Best, Mr. Nadella.

Microsoft’s new CEO, its third in 30 years, comes to the job with two very important tailwinds and two very strong headwinds. How he deals with these winds will determine how he navigates his new office and the dangerous waters of the market place.

Nadella appears to be a compromise candidate plucked from within the bowels of Microsoft with less than unanimous support from the full board. This is a tough way to start a new CEO career.

The Institute wishes him the very best. Click here to see what we think.

What happened to J & J?

Attorney General Eric Holder, describing the $2.2 billion fine on Johnson and Johnson, was recently quoted as saying: “J&J displayed a reckless indifference to the safety of the American people.” This case follows over a decade of other accusation, indictments and fines on the company once revered as the gold standard for ethical business behavior. How can a company that had operated on such high standards for ethical behavior become so blatantly irresponsible, dishonest, unethical and even criminal in the space of forty years? I think it’s all a matter of effective executive stewardship. Click here to read more.

Top Board Priorities for 2014

The opening of a new year always suggests new opportunities, challenges and priorities. Daniels’ Professor John Holcomb and Institute Director Dan Sweeney have developed a short list of five top priorities for Boards of Directors for the coming year. Click here to read more.

For a more detailed commentary on a longer list of issues for boards in 2014 from Arthur Kohn, Partner, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton as posted on the Conference Board Governance Center Blog click here.