Final answer:
High-profile ethical misconduct cases involving top management include the Wells Fargo fraudulent accounts scandal, which led to CEO John G. Stumpf's resignation, and the Theranos case, where CEO Elizabeth Holmes was charged and convicted of fraud.
Step-by-step explanation:
One example of an ethical misconduct case implicating a member of a company's top management team in the past five years involves Wells Fargo. In 2016, it was revealed that employees had created millions of fraudulent accounts in customers' names without their consent. This scandal led to investigations, fines, and the eventual resignation of Wells Fargo's CEO, John G. Stumpf, over the bank’s widespread unethical practices. Another high-profile case emerged with Elizabeth Holmes and the biotech company Theranos, where she was accused of engaging in deceptive practices by making false claims about Theranos' blood-testing technology. Holmes was charged with massive fraud in 2018, leading to a high-profile trial and conviction for fraud.
These incidents illustrate the critical importance of corporate governance and demonstrate the consequences that can ensue when it fails. They also raise questions about the role of watchdog institutions and the overall integrity of corporate culture. The cases emphasize the need for transparency, ethical behavior, and accountability at the highest levels of corporate leadership.