Outside Director

See: Independent Director.

First, an "inside" director is an insider to the company. The CEO. The founder. The largest shareholder who was there even before the hot IPO. All insiders who have other alliances, interests, and, well, friends...versus just the basic average Joe Shmo shareholder.

In theory, an inside director might direct differently versus the actions of a cold, neutral, all-the-shareholders friendly director. That's the role of the outside director. They're the Jerry Maguire-"Show me the money" vibe. That's it.