Skills, yes, and pedigree too to some extent since it's important to the board that shareholders are confident in management. I'm not sure where you're getting

Skills, yes, and pedigree too to some extent since it's important to the board that shareholders are confident in management. I'm not sure where you're getting "risks which ordinary workers do not take" from though. I don't see that being a part of the equation. It seems particularly strange in the case of oil companies or security or military contractors where workers face actual physical danger on the job.