DealBook | DealB%K Today's Top Headlines: 'Tainted,' but Still Serving on Corporate Boards
Tuesday, April 24, 2012 TODAY'S TOP HEADLINES Top Story 'Tainted,' but Still Serving on Corporate Boards David M. Poppe, who manages money for the Sequoia Fund, knew he was taking an unusual step when he sat down a little over a week ago to write a letter to his investors, Andrew Ross Sorkin writes in his DealBook column. His letter, which he wrote with his partner, implored his firm's investors to vote against the re-election of one of Goldman Sachs's most prominent board members, James A. Johnson, a former chief executive of Fannie Mae. Mr. Poppe characterized Mr. Johnson's tenure as being "at the center of several egregious corporate governance debacles." Mr. Johnson also is a board member of Target, and Mr. Poppe also advises his investors to vote against his re-election if he is nominated again. It may be surprising that the former chief of Fannie Mae still remains the director of a public company as prominent