dmac - hate doing this as this equates to specualtion over speculation but IF Sheldon were to have sold a portion of his shares to drop the share price:
a) YES short term it would hurt his company's return
b) YES short term would hurt his personal wealth
but
c) if additional options were to be issued to him at a lower exercise price, and he still believes in the long term potential of the company, then net-net he would be a winner holding about the same amount of shares with cheaper priced options in hand for future additional gains.
For those that will say this tactic is illegal, you are correct, IF PROVEN. All he would have to say to regulators is something along the lines of "I was simply looking to diversify my portfolio in my RRSP as I am well overweight PTK and wished to do so prior to joining the board and once this is the case I would no longer be able to do so." End of story.
Sandman
p.s. just an exercise in stupidity lol