Alistair Field
AlcoaAbout Alistair Field
Independent director of Alcoa Corporation since 2024; age 60. Background spans 25+ years across mining, metals, and manufacturing, including CEO roles and senior operations leadership in Australia and the Middle East, providing board-relevant expertise in vertically integrated aluminum operations and EHS oversight . Appointed to Alcoa’s Board effective August 1, 2024 in connection with the Alumina Limited acquisition; the Board affirmed his independence and found no material interest in prior Alumina Limited transactions . Committee assignment: Safety, Sustainability and Public Issues (member) .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sims Limited (Australia) | Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director | 2017–2023 | Led an Australian-based metal and electronics recycling company |
| Asciano Limited (Australia) | Leadership roles | Not disclosed | Freight and logistics leadership experience |
| Saudi Arabian Mining Company (Ma’aden) | Director of Operations, Aluminum | 2009–2010 | Operations leadership in aluminum |
| Rio Tinto / Rio Tinto Alcan | COO, Bauxite & Alumina (Pacific Operations); VP, Operations at Rio Tinto Alcan | Not disclosed | Industry/manufacturing and operations expertise |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| BlueScope Steel Limited (Australia) | Director | Current | Not disclosed |
| Fonterra Co-operative Group Limited (New Zealand) | Director | Current | Not disclosed |
| Alumina Limited | Director | 2024 | Prior public board; independence affirmed (no material interest) |
| Sims Limited | Director | 2017–2023 | Prior public board |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Safety, Sustainability and Public Issues (member; 5 meetings in 2024). Committee oversees safety, health, environmental sustainability, social performance, public policy, reputation, and political/lobbying policies .
- Independence: The Board determined Field is independent under NYSE and Alcoa standards; no material relationships or related-party interests were found (including in connection with Alumina Limited) .
- Attendance: In 2024, each non-employee director attended at least 75% of Board and committee meetings, with average attendance ~98%; Board met 11 times, and all directors attended the 2024 annual meeting .
- Overboarding: Alcoa policy limits outside public boards to three for non-executive directors; current board members (including Field) were in compliance .
- Executive sessions and leadership structure: Independent chair, fully independent committees, and regular executive sessions of independent directors .
Fixed Compensation
Non-Employee Director Compensation Program (structure)
| Element | Amount |
|---|---|
| Cash Retainer | $130,000 |
| Equity Award (RSUs) | $160,000 (generally vests after one year) |
| Non-Executive Chairman Fee | $175,000 |
| Audit Committee Chair Fee (includes member fee) | $27,500 |
| Audit Committee Member Fee | $11,000 |
| People & Compensation Committee Chair Fee | $20,000 |
| Governance & Nominating Committee Chair Fee | $20,000 |
| Other Committee Chair Fee | $16,500 |
Directors may elect to defer cash fees into investment options or RSUs under the Deferred Fee Plan; RSUs settle after board service ends per director election .
2024 Actual (Field)
| Year | Fees Earned/Paid (Cash) | Stock Awards (Fair Value) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2024 | $54,049 | $124,043 | $178,092 |
Field’s 2024 compensation reflects prorated service beginning August 1, 2024 .
Performance Compensation
| Equity Award Type | Grant Date(s) | Number/Status | Vesting | Grant-Date Fair Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSUs (Non-Employee Director annual/prorated) | Aug 12, 2024 (Field prorated grant) | 3,977 unvested RSUs as of Dec 31, 2024 | Generally vest after one year; settlement post-service per elections | $124,043 |
Non-employee directors receive time-based RSUs; no stock options or performance-conditioned PRSUs are disclosed for directors .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Potential Interlock | Observation |
|---|---|
| Alumina Limited | Field served briefly (2024) prior to Alcoa’s acquisition; Board concluded no material interest in Alcoa–Alumina transactions (supports independence) . |
| Customers/Suppliers/Competitors | No related-party transactions disclosed involving Field; Governance & Nominating Committee oversees related-person transactions with thresholds and review protocols . |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Skills matrix highlights: leadership; industry/manufacturing; operations; global business/economics; financial literacy; risk management; labor/HR; compensation; scientific innovation/technology; EHS; social/community/public policy .
- Australian experience relevant to Alcoa’s footprint and strategy; contributes valuable operational insight to vertically integrated aluminum operations .
Equity Ownership
Beneficial Ownership (as of March 1, 2025)
| Holder | Total Beneficial Ownership (Shares) | % of Class | Additional Underlying Stock Units (RSUs/Deferred) | Total (Shares + Units) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alistair Field | 0 | * | 3,977 | 3,977 |
“*” denotes less than 1% of outstanding shares (258,885,457 shares outstanding) .
Ownership Guideline & Value (as of Jan 1, 2025)
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Director Stock Ownership Guideline | $750,000 (must be held until retirement) |
| Field’s Holdings Value (Stock, RSUs, CDIs, Deferred Units) | $160,392 |
RSUs, CDIs, and deferred share units count toward guideline; directors receive ~50% of annual compensation in stock equivalents held until retirement . Hedging and pledging of Company securities are prohibited for directors .
Governance Assessment
- Independence and conflicts: Board affirmed Field’s independence and found no material relationships or interests, including in connection with his prior Alumina Limited directorship—reduces conflict risk .
- Committee effectiveness: Placement on Safety, Sustainability and Public Issues aligns with his EHS and operations background; committee met 5 times in 2024 and oversees material non-financial risks, reputation, and public policy—supports board risk oversight .
- Engagement signals: Board attendance and engagement metrics in 2024 were strong (average ~98%; minimum 75% for each non-employee director); structure includes regular independent executive sessions—supports board effectiveness .
- Ownership alignment: Field’s holdings value ($160,392) are below the $750,000 director guideline, consistent with his recent appointment; guideline permits RSUs/CDIs/deferred units to count and requires holding until retirement—monitor progression toward guideline over time .
- Compensation structure: Standard, market-median director program with mix of cash and time-based RSUs; no options or performance-conditioned equity for directors; deferral available—no pay anomalies or guarantees observed .
- RED FLAGS: None disclosed specific to Field (no related-party transactions, pledging/hedging prohibited, independence affirmed). Watch item: ownership below guideline given short tenure; expect trajectory to increase via annual RSU awards and potential open-market accumulation .