The Association of Governing Boards named Ross Mugler its president and CEO after his interim year, a leadership pick billed as a return to steady governance advocacy. The appointment comes as AGB programming is flagging how outdated board portals and workaround practices are creating manual burdens, weakening trustee engagement and muddying official records. AGB’s new leader stressed nonpartisan governance principles; governance experts say boards must modernize digital tools and trustee onboarding to protect institutional autonomy, improve minutes and reduce legal risk. The sector faces a governance moment where trustee competency, board technology and public scrutiny intersect.