Corporate Governance

Profits at big U.S. companies broke records last year, and so did pay for CEOs. The head of a typical public company made $9.6 million in 2011, according to an analysis by the AP using data from Equilar, an executive pay research firm.

The Walmart bribery scandal has shined a harsh spotlight on corporate misdeeds. How can you keep track of the probity of the businesses you patronize? These websites can help.

Facebook's $1 billion acquisition of Instagram surprised outsiders this month, but Facebook's own board of directors was caught almost as off guard by Mark Zuckerberg's highhanded move. Here's why that doesn't bode well for Facebook's future:

Investment research firm Morningstar is steadfast in its view that the chairman who oversees a CEO shouldn't also be the CEO: Separation of the roles is a key point on its corporate governance checklist ... except when it comes to its own founder, Joe Mansueto.

Every investor should be asking their portfolio companies what succession plans they have to replace their CEOs in the event of a tragedy like that which befell Micron Technology CEO Steve Appleton last week. Because unfortunately, many companies don't have any plan at all.

Earlier this year, Ethisphere published its fifth annual list of the World's Most Ethical Companies. You'll be interested in which ones made the top of the list, but what's more important is how -- and how well they do by doing good.

You can put new clothes on formerly communist nations, but it's hard to change what's under their skin. Don't be fooled: Both Russia and China have really awful bones. So before investing in either one, know the risks that lurk below the surface.

U.S. pension fund giant CalPER has submitted a shareholder proposal -- calling on Apple investors to approve a policy, requiring the computer company's directors to win at least a majority of votes to retain their board seat.

With the recession over -- in a sense, anyway -- many CEOs are happy to be standing. And after three tumultuous years, some are even cautiously optimistic. But 2011 is sure to present a whole new set of obstacles for corporate chiefs to confront -- and conquer.

The number of chief executive officers leaving their posts in October fell to its lowest level in 18 months, according to a new report released today. The drop seems to show that the volatile job market, at least among corporate chiefs, appears to be stabilizing.