Akademik

n.

Older, experienced executives hired by start-up firms in an effort to make the firms appear more established.

"Remember it was computer people who coined the term 'gray matter' — older employees who are hired specifically because of their years, in order to add credibility to the enterprise."

— Mark Nelson and Dale Dauten, "The Shots You Don't Take," The New York Post, October 4, 1998

These individuals are also known as gray hairs or no hairs:

"But in 2001, an 'old school' emphasis on improving the efficiency of operations and locating customers with deep pockets is back in vogue, and a tech company's investors breathe a sigh of relief when a 'gray hair' (or a 'no hair') CEO is in charge."

— Scott Kirsner, "Downturn dictionary," The Boston Globe, November 12, 2001