[ethel rascel]

Kent Kresa is an engineer.

Northrop Grumman CEO (1990-2003)
BS Aeronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1959)
MS Aeronautics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1961)
EAA, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (1966)
Administrator: Trustee, California Institute of Technology (1994-).

But you're right, he's not a car guy.

[taildragger]

Car guys can't make it in Aerospace ergo Karl Karpek at Pratt and Whitney, his claim to fame the Fiero and he was a disaster IMHO.

But it seems aerospace top wonks can make a car company work ergo Mulally.

My guess is after speaking to one of my gnomes, no one is going to want this job...

[Leisler]

Thanks, for the correction.

Looks like a life time academic too and head of a Defense contractor. Not really my idea of breading grounds for quick footed decision makers for the private sector.( Although I admire MIT a lot.)

[magellan]

"But you're right, he's not a car guy."

True, and most boards are not composed of people from the corporation's industry. That is not the role of a board. They don't run the company. That's what CEOs, COOs, and VPs do. Boards are about governance, auditing, compensation, etc.

What did Colin Powell know about AOL? What did Vernon Jordan know about anything?

That said, there is no doubt knowledge and experience close to the industry of the corporation who's board one is serving on could be beneficial.

Furthermore, Sarbanes-Oxley restricted board membership to prevent corporate officers from a corporation's suppliers, customers, and partners from serving on its board. Often times, these people have the greatest insight into a corporation's operation.