Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) did not have an 'investment committee,' but rather, of the six committees that reported to the board of directors, had a risk committee, which excluded its most qualified director, Thomas King, a former Barclays investment banking CEO. The board of directors of Silicon Valley Bank, which collapsed Friday, had appointed Thomas King, former CEO of investment banking at Barclays, to its board in a bid to add more diversity.
Intriguingly, the risk committee excludes its most qualified director — Thomas King, a former Barclays investment banking CEO, who joined SVB's board of directors in a bid to add diversity. Wall Street Journal columnist Andy Kessler points the finger at a statement touting the board's diversity: Was there regulatory failure? Perhaps.
Silicon Valley Bank, part of SVB Financial Group, provides banking and financial services to technology companies and their investors. It also offers other businesses including a fund-of-funds platform and an investment banking arm (you might know them from their involvement in the recent Uber public offering).
SVB Capital maintains underwriting and investment committee processes that are separate from Silicon Valley Bank. SVB Securities is a leading advisor for venture capital and private equity funds. It has a portfolio of global clients and maintains strong relationships with venture capital and private equity funds.
Silicon Valley Bank had an A rating for its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) practices. 'SVB's Sustainable Finance Commitment aims to support companies that are pushing the boundaries of innovation while also doing the right thing for their environment and society.'
The President of Silicon Valley Capital – the investment banking arm of the SVB Financial Group – is Stephen Isaacs, chairman of the Investment Committee at Alvine Capital. He's also a founding board member of the Newsom nonprofit.
The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank had crypto investors on edge, as many of them had been using the bank's services to conduct their investments. SVB had been a leading player in the crypto space, and its demise was seen as a big loss for the industry.
The board of directors at Silicon Valley Bank was made up of a diverse group of individuals from the technology and finance industries. Among the members were former eBay CEO Meg Whitman, former Cisco CEO John Chambers, and former Apple executive Jean-Louis Gassée.
SVB had been a leading player in the venture capital and private equity space, and its demise was seen as a major setback for the industry. The SVB board was particularly well-connected to the venture capital world, and its collapse has generated a great deal of discussion about what went wrong.
The SVB board had been highly praised for its commitment to diversity and inclusion. The board was made up of individuals from diverse backgrounds, including women, people of color, and people from the LGBT community.
The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank has sparked a great deal of discussion and debate about what went wrong. Was the board of directors, investment committee, and risk committee too lax in their oversight? Was the board too focused on diversity at the expense of financial prudence? Was the bank too reliant on the venture capital and private equity markets? These are all questions that need to be answered.
Extract anonymous image description: A group of diverse individuals sitting around a conference table discussing the collapse of a financial institution.
