Latasha M. Akoma
AMERICAN WOODMARKAbout Latasha M. Akoma
Independent director of American Woodmark (AMWD) since 2022; age 54. Operating Partner at GenNx360 Capital Partners since 2014 and interim Chief Compliance Officer in 2021; former public company board member at Lion Electric (2022–2025) . The Board affirms her independence under NASDAQ rules, including additional independence requirements for Audit and Compensation Committees . Board met seven times in fiscal 2025 and all directors, including Ms. Akoma, attended at least 75% of Board and committee meetings; directors attend regular executive sessions without management .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| GenNx360 Capital Partners | Operating Partner; interim Chief Compliance Officer (2021) | 2014–present | Operations/manufacturing expertise cited by AMWD Board |
| American Woodmark | Independent Director | 2022–present | Member: Audit; Compensation |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lion Electric | Board Member | 2022–2025 | Public company directorship; no current public boards as of 2025 |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee member; Compensation Committee member; not designated an Audit Committee financial expert (experts: Hendrix, Fracassa) .
- Independence: Determined independent by the Board; meets additional independence requirements for Audit and Compensation Committees .
- Attendance and engagement: Board held seven meetings in fiscal 2025; all directors attended ≥75% of Board and committee meetings; independent directors hold executive sessions at each regular Board meeting .
- GSN (Governance, Sustainability & Nominating) oversight: Reviews conflicts and director independence; engages in board composition and sustainability oversight (Akoma not listed as a member in 2025) .
Fixed Compensation
| Metric | FY 2024 | FY 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash retainer ($) | 77,500 | 85,000 |
| Committee/Chair fees ($) | Included in cash; no chair fees shown for Akoma | Included in cash; no chair fees shown for Akoma |
| Non-employee director annual cash retainer policy ($) | 85,000 | 85,000 |
| Chair retainer policy ($) | Audit Chair: 20,000; Comp & GSN Chairs: 15,000; Non-Exec Chair: 125,000 | Audit Chair: 20,000; Comp & GSN Chairs: 15,000; Non-Exec Chair: 125,000 |
Performance Compensation
| Equity Award | Grant Date | Shares Granted | Grant-Date Fair Value ($) | Vesting Terms | Change-of-Control Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director RSUs (FY24 award) | 2023-09-05 | 1,830 | 146,583 | Continuous service through 2024-09-05; pro-rata if earlier departure | Full shares if serving through date of change of control |
| Director RSUs (FY25 award) | 2024-08-22 | 1,370 | 130,465 | Continuous service through 2025-08-22; pro-rata if earlier departure | Full shares if serving through date of change of control |
| Unvested RSUs held (as of period-end) | 2024-04-30: 4,120 | — | — | Company-wide director holdings; Fracassa excepted | — |
| Total director compensation ($) | 224,083 | 215,465 |
Notes:
- Director RSUs are service-based; no performance metrics apply to director equity awards. Vesting is contingent on continued service; pro-rata treatment upon earlier departure and full vesting upon change of control if serving through the date .
- Grant prices: $77.19 (2023-09-05) and $95.23 (2024-08-22) used to determine fair values .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current public company boards | None (Other current public boards = 0) |
| Prior public company boards | Lion Electric (2022–2025) |
| Compensation Committee interlocks | None reported by company |
| Potential interlocks with suppliers/customers | Not disclosed; GSN and Audit Committees review related-party conflicts |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Operations/manufacturing specialist from private equity operating role (GenNx360), adding practical manufacturing oversight to Audit and Compensation risk reviews .
- Not designated a financial expert on Audit Committee (Hendrix and Fracassa designated), but serves on Audit, suggesting broad governance competency .
Equity Ownership
| As of | Beneficially Owned Shares | % of Class | Ownership Guidelines | Compliance Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-06-17 | 4,220 | <1% | 5x annual cash retainer; 5-year window from appointment; includes unvested RSUs | All non-management directors met or were on pace to meet |
Footnote: “<1%” corresponds to “* indicates less than 1%” in the proxy’s ownership table .
Insider Trades
| Filing/Transaction | Date | Instrument | Quantity/Terms | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual director RSU grant Form 4 | Filed late (Company disclosure) | RSUs | FY25 grant: 1,370 RSUs (grant 2024-08-22) | Company reported late Form 4 for annual director RSU grant for Ms. Akoma; grant date and RSU count per director compensation section |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent director with dual committee roles (Audit and Compensation), signaling trust in oversight of financial reporting and human capital; Board-wide policies on conflicts and related-party transactions with Audit and GSN review; Company reports no related-party transactions since beginning of fiscal 2025, reducing conflict risk .
- Alignment: Meaningful equity via annual RSUs and beneficial ownership; stock ownership guidelines (5x cash retainer) and compliance/on-track status support skin-in-the-game alignment for directors .
- Attendance/engagement: Meets ≥75% attendance; Board’s regular executive sessions strengthen independent oversight; board site visits augment operational insight .
- Watch items / RED FLAGS: Procedural lapse—Company disclosed late Form 4 filings for annual director RSU grants, including Ms. Akoma; while not indicative of intent, timely reporting is a governance hygiene point to monitor .
- Overall: Akoma’s operations background complements AMWD’s manufacturing profile and her presence on Audit and Compensation strengthens board effectiveness. Absence of related-party transactions and adherence to ownership guidelines are positive for investor confidence, with only minor process risk noted regarding Section 16 reporting timeliness .