Can share holders influence a CEO of a company or a corporation ?

Shareholders certainly can influence the direction of a company. But you have to either have garnered enough support from other shareholders, or control enough of the stock to get the Board and executives to listen to you.

In the last ten years, many corporations have taken measures to reduce the call for change from activist shareholders who don’t control enough votes to change things. In many cases, it only takes ownership of one share to be invited to the Annual Meeting and ask questions of the Board. Recently, some corporations have restricted attendance to those with a minimum percentage holding to attend.

Exxon Mobil seated an activist investor on their board because he gained support. There is contention over Exxon’s future in going “green” and getting out of fossil fuels.

Yes, but not individual shareholders, to be honest.

To be ‘heard’ by management, you have to own a significant number of shares. Someone that owns 10 million shares gets listened to. Someone that owns 10 shares – forget it.

Thanks guys, I really dont think its a good idea that a CEO would get influenced..

@hosa ”, I really dont think its a good idea that a CEO would get influenced” Why not?
We’re talking about CEO being influenced by people who own the company. CEO works for them.

@dabbler I know.. But you dont realize that when a person becomes CEO that is a sign of excellence, that he has brains and obtained intelligence and experience that rich people cannot buy.. And knows what is best..
you know what they say, Give the bread to the baker..

@hosa “When a person becomes CEO that is a sign of excellence, that he has brains and obtained intelligence and experience that rich people cannot buy” – citation needed.

There is at least as much evidence of chronic “Peter Principle” among C-level executives (people rise to the level of their incompetence),
And there is a massive effect of the same people being on each other’s boards of directors just handing each other cash, rewarding each other for being each other’s pals.

There is no reason to think shareholders are less intelligent than the CEOs and many of them are just as well informed about their companies as the CEOs.

@dabbler Share holders have (and are) reached elitism..
Which means they have accumulated an unimaginable amount of wealth that a working person will never be able to reach.. Wealth that is in most cases inherited father to son..
You want to tell me that the spoiled guys sitting in their castles consuming resources getting their money without working, are more competent than a guy that worked and studied most of their life? or even have good intentions for humanity?

I think our settlement is obvious..

Regarding this statement..: “And there is a massive effect of the same people being on each other’s boards of directors just handing each other cash, rewarding each other for being each other’s pals.” I wont argue with it because it is probably true and there are next to no laws to prevent such behavior.. And even if there were it would be very, very hard to apply because of lack of evidence..

Regarding the citation… Thats all me

@hosa with all respect, Bullshit

I am a shareholder in 15–20 companies. Not a big shareholder—a couple of hundred shares in this and that, a couple of thousand in another stock.

I’m as far from being an elitist as you will ever know. No CEO is inviting me into his office. But I am a guy who made (and makes) some smart investments.

If you want to moderate your statement about elitism, that would be a whole lot more accurate.

@elbanditoroso I don’t have anything good to say about elitism..
On the other hand..
I am sorry I haven’t been accurate, as obviously not all share holders are elites,
At that moment I was looking at the big picture, and didn’t really consider the average condition..