Goodwin’s 13th Annual Directors Forum focused on how board of directors can embrace change and explore “out of the box” thinking. The threat of disruption from technological innovation is as persistent as it is unpredictable. But an informed and involved board of directors can help a company stay ahead of disruptors of the curve while remaining true to its mission.
This year’s forum included thought-provoking discussions and interactive sessions.
We started the morning with Aaron von Staats, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of PTC, a global software company discussed technology disruption and business model changes. He also provided a demo of one of PTC’s proprietary augmented reality software.
Having served on boards of Service Corporation International, Sprint and Xerox, Sara Martinez Tucker shared her view on the importance of seeking outside perspectives to stay ahead of competition and emerging technologies.
James Geraghty, chairman of Idera Pharmaceuticals, Orchard Therapeutics and Pieris Pharmaceuticals as well as Director of Voyager Therapeutics, discussed his relationship with the legendary Henri Termeer, founder and longtime Genzyme CEO and board chairman.
Jeffrey Marrazzo, Co-Founder, CEO and Director of Spark Therapeutics, then walked through how he and his board handled an unsolicited takeover bid and how they ultimately negotiated a significantly higher purchase price with Goodwin advising throughout the process.
Stuart Cable, chair of Goodwin’s M&A and Corporate Finance practices for the firm’s Technology and Life Sciences groups, and Lisa Haddad, co-chair of the firm’s M&A/Corporate Governance practice, led a “gameshow” discussion with audience members providing real-time answers to probing question.
We ended with Dr. Atul Gawande, a surgeon, writer, and public health leader, is CEO of Haven, a non-profit health care venture. He discussed how the cost of healthcare is creating a global crisis, forcing society and individuals to confront whether they can afford the care physicians provide.
We look forward to seeing you at next year’s Directors Forum. Please contact us if you have any questions.
