AFSCME还建议强生任命一个独立董事长，这个意见也获得了ISS的支持。韦尔顿最近已经从CEO职位上退休了，不过他打算继续在公司里担任董事长。强生公司在一份文件中表示韦尔顿应该继续担任董事长一职：“眼下公司正处于向新CEO的过渡期，董事会相信，让前任CEO继续担任董事长，与新CEO密切合作，能够确保高层权力平稳过渡，最符合公司的利益。”

    林斯利认为，强生董事会需要一个独立的董事长：“如果前CEO成了董事长，他就会倾向于保护他的‘徒弟’。我们认为韦尔顿先生不应该再与公司有任何瓜葛。”

    译者：朴成奎

    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."