????AFSCME has also lobbied the company to institute an independent chairman, a proposal that has won support from ISS. Weldon, who recently stepped down as CEO, intends to stay on as chairman. J&J has argued that he should maintain that role, writing in a filing, "Our Board believes that in the context of the upcoming transition to a new CEO, it will be in the best interests of the company to have our former CEO remain as Chairman and work closely with our new CEO to ensure a seamless transition of leadership."
????Lindsley says J&J's board needs independent leadership. "When a former CEO is the chair, they tend to protect their protégés," she says. "We just don't think that Mr. Weldon should have anything to do with the company."
