Denise L. Nappier, who oversees the $20 billion Connecticut Retirement Plans & Trust Funds, Hartford, this week urged the New York Stock Exchange to adopt stricter corporate accountability and responsibility standards for NYSE-listed companies. Ms. Nappier, Connecticut state treasurer, said she supported recommendations that independent directors should comprise the majority of any board, and that members of audit, nominating and governance committees should be independent. She also suggested strengthening the definition of independent to exclude former employees or auditors who have had paid relationships with the company in the previous five years.
Ms. Nappier's comments were made in a letter to Richard Grasso, NYSE chairman and CEO.