Always Separate CEO, Chairman Roles

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Goldman Sach (GS) is the latest to separate the CEO and board chairman roles by leaving Lloyd Blankfein as CEO, but naming James Schiro as the leading director of the always provocative financial powerhouse investment bank.

While this was precipitated by demands from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees union group, it just makes good sense.

Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein

There is always a need for some degree of independence, if not the appearance of independence and separation of powers. Frankly every company should follow bucking the "Imperial CEO" trap of joint titles/roles.

The dreaded Sarbanes-Oxley Act was a costly, knee-jerk reaction to the infamous scandals at Enron and WorldCom, where all-powerful CEO-chairmen had little check on their actions because they ran the board of directors and managed the company. By the way, not to be outdone by Sarbanes-Oxley, Washington continues the insanity with Frank-Dodd, Volcker, et al. But I digress . . .

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The reality is that CEOs are responsible for day-to-day operations. And the board of directors are responsible to see the CEO is doing his job.

Sure there are other responsibilities of both board and CEO regarding strategy, mission, vision, governance, risk and compliance.

CEO governance is leadership. Board leadership is governance.