How should an FPO be governed, what is the role of the board, CEO and members?

Good governance is the difference between an FPO that lasts and one that fights. The roles: Members own the FPO, one member one vote regardless of shares, they elect the board, attend the annual general meeting, and most importantly use the FPO's services. The Board of Directors (elected from members) sets policy, approves budgets and big decisions, and is accountable to members; the Chairman leads the board and meetings but should not run daily operations alone. The CEO/Manager (ideally a paid professional, not a director) runs the day to day business, purchasing, selling, accounts and staff, and reports to the board. Keep a clear line: the board governs, the CEO manages. Problems start when the chairman runs everything personally, or when the board interferes in daily trading, or when there is no CEO at all. Set written rules: regular board meetings with minutes, an annual general meeting, transparent accounts shared with members, and a conflict of interest policy so directors do not trade against the FPO. Transparency keeps member trust, and member trust keeps your volume.