Board should communicate more with shareholders

This suggestion by Sodali Chairman John Wilcox merits our attention. But is not a key problem that the (Chief) Executive has a major role in selecting his own supervisors? Naturally there are Board Chairman in several countries that are nominally in charge but still there is a dis-connect as the shareholders are rarely able - and/or willing - to play a major role in selecting board members. There may be a director tasked with the role of being the point of contact to shareholder queries but it is often all behind closed doors (thus creating conflicted investors that may obtain inside information). But again, without such a dialogue, how can one expect shareholders to 'engage' with the companies they invest in?
(17 Oct 2014)