Management scholar can discuss new corporate board members becoming CEOs

LAWRENCE — When General Electric last week fired CEO John Flannery after 14 months, its elevation of new board member Larry Culp to the top management post raised some eyebrows among those who follow business leadership trends.

Culp has only served on GE's board since April and previously was CEO of Danaher Corp.

A University of Kansas School of Business professor who studies trends among top managers and dynamics of corporate structure is available to discuss the recent development of board directors to become CEO of a company, though it is still less common than the traditional route of elevating from within the company's internal management.

Vincent Barker is KU's Edmund P. Learned Professor of Business Administration and professor of strategic management. His research focuses on how top managers influence strategy, including in their relationships with corporate board members.

To arrange an interview with Barker, contact George Diepenbrock at 785-864-8853 or gdiepenbrock@ku.edu.