Susan E. Siegel
ALIGN TECHNOLOGYAbout Susan E. Siegel
Independent director of Align Technology since 2017; age 64. Serves on the Nominating and Governance Committee and the Technology Committee, bringing a background in life sciences and innovation including Chief Innovation Officer at GE (2017–2019), CEO of GE Ventures and Licensing (2012–2017), General Partner at Mohr Davidow Ventures, and Director/President at Affymetrix; education includes a B.S. in Biology (University of Puerto Rico) and an M.S. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (Boston University Medical School) .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| GE | Chief Innovation Officer | 2017–2019 | Led innovation initiatives at a conglomerate |
| GE Ventures & Licensing | CEO | 2012–2017 | Built and managed corporate venture and licensing portfolio |
| Mohr Davidow Ventures | General Partner | Prior (years not specified) | Focused investments in personalized medicine, life sciences, digital health |
| Affymetrix | Director and President | Prior (2000–2006 listed under external roles) | Scaled genomics company from startup to multi‑billion market cap; addressed bioethical issues |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illumina, Inc. | Director | 2019–present | Public company directorship |
| Nevro Corporation | Director | 2020–present | Public company directorship |
| The Engine | Chair | 2020–present (member since 2016–2020) | Deep tech venture platform |
| KFF (formerly Kaiser Family Foundation) | Director | 2019–present | Non-profit governance |
| National Venture Capital Association | Director | 2012–2016 | Industry association |
| Pacific Biosciences, Inc. | Director | 2006–2013 | Public company directorship (past) |
| Tech Interactive | Director | 2003–2007 | Non-profit board |
| Affymetrix | Director | 2000–2006 | Public company directorship (past) |
Board Governance
- Committee memberships: Nominating and Governance Committee (members: Lacob (Chair), Larkin Jr., Morrow, Siegel); Technology Committee (members: Dallas (Chair), Lacob, Saia, Siegel) .
- Independence: Board committees are composed only of independent directors; Siegel is designated an Independent Director .
- Attendance: Board held six meetings in 2024; each director attended at least 75% of aggregate Board and committee meetings; independent directors met in executive session four times; eight directors attended the 2024 annual meeting .
- Board leadership: Independent Chairman of the Board is C. Raymond Larkin, Jr.; separation of Chair and CEO roles; directors elected annually by majority vote .
Fixed Compensation
| Component (2024) | Amount ($) | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Board Retainer | 50,000 | Non‑employee directors; paid quarterly |
| Nominating & Governance Committee membership | 5,000 | Annual retainer |
| Technology Committee membership | 5,000 | Annual retainer |
| Total Cash Fees Earned (Siegel) | 60,000 | Reported 2024 cash compensation |
Performance Compensation
| Award Type | Grant Date | Shares/Units Granted | Grant Date Fair Value ($) | Vesting | Performance Metrics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSUs (time‑based) | May 22, 2024 | 1,148 | 299,766 | 100% on earlier of one‑year anniversary or next annual meeting; expected vest May 21, 2025 | None; time‑based (no performance/market conditions) |
RSU count calculated using ALGN closing price $261.12 on grant date; Chair received a higher RSU value, but Siegel received the standard non‑chair grant .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Type | Potential Interlock/Conflict |
|---|---|---|
| Illumina, Inc. | Public board | No related‑party transactions disclosed with ALGN |
| Nevro Corporation | Public board | No related‑party transactions disclosed with ALGN |
| The Engine (Chair) | Private/non‑profit | No ALGN transactions disclosed |
| KFF | Non‑profit | No ALGN transactions disclosed |
| NVCA, PacBio, Tech Interactive, Affymetrix (past) | Mix | No current ALGN conflicts disclosed |
Board‑level related party transactions exist with Golden State Warriors due to director Joseph Lacob (tickets/sponsorships; immaterial to ALGN; one contract not pre‑approved and later ratified by Audit Committee in March 2025), but no disclosures implicate Siegel personally .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Life sciences, genomics, biomedical innovation; venture investing and corporate venturing leadership; recognized industry awards and Aspen Institute Henry Crown Fellow; featured in “Multipliers” .
- Technology oversight: Technology Committee remit includes evaluation of technology strategy, IP portfolio, data/analytics capabilities, and AI initiatives; relevant to Siegel’s innovation background .
- Corporate governance: Nominating & Governance Committee remit includes CEO/Board succession, board composition, and governance principles .
Equity Ownership
| As of March 24, 2025 | Outstanding Shares Beneficially Owned | RSUs/MSUs vesting on or before May 23, 2025 | Total Beneficially Owned | % Outstanding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Susan E. Siegel | 7,830 | 1,148 | 8,978 | <1% |
- Options: None disclosed for directors; beneficial owners do not hold options .
- Hedging/pledging: Company prohibits hedging, pledging, short sales, derivatives, and margin accounts for directors, officers, employees .
- Stock ownership guidelines: Non‑employee directors required to hold $400,000 in ALGN stock; all directors were in compliance as of Dec 31, 2024 .
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent director with deep healthcare/innovation expertise; active roles on Technology and Nominating & Governance Committees; compliance with director stock ownership guidelines; prohibitions on hedging/pledging enhance alignment; Board held six meetings and directors met attendance minimum; independent directors held four executive sessions, indicating robust oversight .
- Compensation alignment: Siegel’s compensation is primarily equity‑based RSUs with standard cash retainers; 2024 mix was $60,000 cash and $299,766 RSUs, consistent with market norms and reviewed by an independent consultant (Compensia) .
- RED FLAGS: Board‑level related party ties with Golden State Warriors (director Lacob) including a sponsorship and a ticket agreement; one was not pre‑approved per Audit Committee charter and was ratified in March 2025—process lapse later remedied. No Siegel‑specific related‑party transactions disclosed .
- Shareholder sentiment: Say‑on‑pay support at ~84% in 2024 suggests general approval of compensation governance; relevant to overall board oversight environment .