As more boards provide additional details about the role and function of lead directors in company governance, common attributes and experiences that shape lead directors at the largest companies are emerging.

Though the responsibilities of lead directors and the profile of the position vary from company to company, data collected by SEC compliance and public company intelligence provider MyLogIQ shows several striking similarities among lead directors at the largest companies.

Among the top 100 companies, 80 boards have appointed an independent director to serve in the lead or presiding director role (controlled companies were excluded). The majority, 70, or 87.5%, are men. The remaining 10 (12.5%) are women. Most lead directors — 77 — serve with an executive chairman or combined CEO-chairman at the helm of the company.