The experience of Integrated Dental Holdings' non-executive Graham Smith will do little to swell the ranks of experienced businessmen willing to become non-executive directors. A few years ago, their role was seen as little more than a lucrative mutual appreciation society made up of ageing executives who graced each other's boards. It was not an onerous task, rather a sinecure that conferred status and some useful extra cash in return for doing little more than turning up at board meetings.
Some organisations, such as supermarket group Wm Morrison, simply didn't see the point. Sir Ken Morrison said he would rather have a couple of extra checkout operators than a non-exec in his boardroom. BBC chairman Michael Grade - who has had a string of non-exec roles - once likened them to bidets: "You're not sure what they're for, but they add a touch of class."
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