What is a Chairman of the Board?

The chairman of a company is the head of its board of directors. The chairman’s authority is laid out in the organization’s bylaws. The chairman presides over the board of director meetings and conducts its business in an orderly fashion. The chairman typically manages the board's agenda. But he or she does not necessarily exercise an active role in day-to-day management.

Industry Best Practices for Chairman of the Board

The responsibility and authority of the chairman is prescribed by the organization’s adopted bylaws. In addition to the responsibilities of the Board of Directors, the Chairman often has the following responsibilities:

---

• Serve as a liaison between Senior Management and the Board.
• Develop and set agendas and coordinate logistics for Board Meetings
• Sometimes acts as Chair at Board Meetings.