But it was only in recent weeks that even some of the most prominent shareholder advocates started raising their voices.
Many shareholder advocates have tended to focus only on companies when they are performing badly or already in crisis, he said.
That presents a challenge to shareholder advocates seeking to rally opposition to management.
Making the costs of options more explicit in financial statements has also become a priority among shareholder advocates.
Sensing that the tide had turned back to American shores, shareholder advocates called on companies to return.
Not all shareholder advocates believe the Indiana statute favors management over shareholders.
Robert Monks, a shareholder advocate, said the current situation presented a "real opportunity" to address many problems.
Many of today's corporate governance professionals and shareholder advocates really had their start in the 1980's.
That committee has held private hearings to listen to suggestions from exchange members, shareholder advocates and others.
The delay in adopting the new rules has left shareholder advocates perplexed.