Robert S. White
About Robert S. White
Independent director and Chairman of the Board at AtriCure, Inc. since March 2013; age 63. Operating Partner at EW Healthcare Partners since May 2018. Prior CEO roles at Entellus Medical (public; acquired by Stryker in Feb 2018) and TYRX; senior leadership posts at Medtronic. Education: B.S. in Aerospace Engineering (University of Missouri–Rolla) and MBA (Cornell University). His core credentials emphasize medical device leadership, growth/M&A execution, regulatory and corporate governance expertise .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure/Date | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entellus Medical, Inc. (public) | President & CEO | Company acquired by Stryker in Feb 2018 | Led innovative minimally-invasive sinus therapies; public company leadership |
| TYRX (private) | President & CEO | Not disclosed | Commercialized implantable drug/device products for infection control |
| Medtronic, Inc. | President (Kyphon); President (Physio Control); VP U.S. Sales & Global Marketing (CRDM) | Not disclosed | Post-acquisition integration (Kyphon $3.9B), large-scale commercial operations |
| General Electric; Eli Lilly | Various roles | Not disclosed | Early career operating/commercial experience |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Public/Private | Status/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| EW Healthcare Partners | Operating Partner | Private equity | Since May 2018 |
| BioTissue Holdings Inc. | Director | Private | Tissue-based products |
| Vital Connect | Director | Private | Wearable biosensors |
| Cardiac Dimensions | Director | Private | Heart failure therapies |
| Melodi Health | Director | Private | Infection control focus |
Prior public boards include Cardiva Medical (acquired by Haemonetics, Feb 2021), Novadaq (acquired by Stryker, Jun 2018), and Entellus Medical (acquired by Stryker, Dec 2017) .
Board Governance
- Role: Chairman of the Board; CEO and Chair roles are separated to enhance oversight and independence .
- Independence: Board affirmatively determined Mr. White (and all directors except the CEO) to be independent under NASDAQ rules; independent directors meet in regular executive sessions .
- Committee memberships (2024 activity):
- Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee (member; 4 meetings in 2024) .
- Strategy Committee (member; 2 meetings in 2024) .
- Attendance: All directors attended the 2024 Annual Meeting and at least 75% of aggregate Board and committee meetings in 2024 .
- CEO succession oversight: The Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee ensures effective short-term CEO succession and annually discusses long-term succession .
- Risk oversight: Board and committees oversee enterprise, compliance, financial reporting, cybersecurity, and strategic transaction risks via ERM and committee charters .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | FY 2024 Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer (all directors) | $50,000 | Standard cash retainer |
| Additional cash retainer (Chair of Board) | $50,000 | Chair premium |
| Committee chair/member retainers (schedule) | Audit Chair $20,000; Audit Member $10,000; Compensation Chair $15,000; Compensation Member $7,500; Compliance/Quality/Risk Chair $15,000; Member $7,500; Nominating & Governance Chair $10,000; Member $5,000; Strategy Chair $10,000; Member $7,500 | Includes membership retainer |
| Robert S. White – Fees Earned (FY 2024) | $99,712 | Reflects role as Board Chair and committee memberships |
Performance Compensation
| Equity Element | FY 2024 Detail | Vesting |
|---|---|---|
| Annual stock retainer | $174,996 grant-date fair value (restricted stock) | Vests in full on earlier of one-year anniversary or the next annual meeting ≥50 weeks after prior annual meeting |
| Initial appointment grant (upon joining Board) | Approx. $175,000 restricted stock in lieu of annual stock retainer | Vests annually over three years |
| Stock options to directors (FY 2024) | None granted | — |
Clawbacks: All awards are subject to the Company’s compensation recoupment policy and applicable exchange/SEC rules .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Type | Role | Outcome/Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiva Medical | Public (then acquired) | Director | Acquired by Haemonetics, Feb 2021 |
| Novadaq | Public | Director | Acquired by Stryker, Jun 2018 |
| Entellus Medical | Public | President & CEO; Director | Acquired by Stryker, Dec 2017 |
The proxy discloses no Compensation Committee interlocks or insider participation; committee members had no relationships requiring Item 404 disclosure during 2024 . The Audit Committee reviews and must approve any related-party transactions .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Significant medical device industry knowledge; business development; regulatory compliance; corporate governance; and extensive M&A experience supporting board effectiveness .
- Education: B.S. Aerospace Engineering (University of Missouri–Rolla) and MBA (Cornell University) .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Beneficial Shares | Options Exercisable within 60 Days | % of Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert S. White | 96,773 | 20,000 | <1% |
- Stock ownership guidelines (non-employee directors): ≥3× annual cash retainer, to be met within 3 years of appointment/adoption .
- Insider trading policy prohibits hedging and pledging (including margin accounts) by directors and officers .
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: Strong independence and separation of Chair/CEO roles with regular executive sessions; Mr. White’s role as Chair and service on Nominating & Governance and Strategy committees aligns with oversight of succession and strategic transactions .
- Alignment and incentives: Director pay structure blends cash retainers with time-based equity, enhancing ownership alignment; clawback policy applies to awards, and hedging/pledging are prohibited—mitigating misalignment and risk .
- Attendance and engagement: Full director attendance at the annual meeting and ≥75% meeting attendance indicates adequate engagement .
- Shareholder sentiment: Say‑on‑Pay approval of 84.6% in May 2024 supports the Company’s compensation governance environment, indirectly reinforcing overall board credibility .
- Potential conflicts: Mr. White’s Operating Partner role and multiple private medtech directorships necessitate ongoing monitoring for related-party transactions and recusal practices; the Audit Committee’s oversight framework and disclosure policy are in place .
RED FLAGS: None disclosed for Mr. White in the proxy regarding related-party transactions, pledging/hedging, option repricing, or attendance shortfalls. Continued monitoring of interlocks with portfolio companies is prudent .