Check Kian Low
About Check Kian Low
Independent director of Broadcom Inc. (AVGO) since 2016; age 65. Founding partner and director of NewSmith Capital Partners LLP since 2003 (leads Asia Pacific offices), owner/director of Cluny Capital Limited since 2007, and former Special Advisor to Singapore Telecommunications Limited (Oct 2021–Sep 2023). Prior roles include Senior Vice-President, member of the Executive Management Committee, and Chairman for the Asia Pacific Region at Merrill Lynch & Co. Core credentials include business strategy, executive leadership, finance/accounting, and global business; the Board has determined he is independent under Nasdaq standards .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merrill Lynch & Co. | Senior VP; Executive Management Committee member; Chairman, Asia Pacific | Prior to 2003 (dates not individually specified) | Not disclosed |
| Singapore Telecommunications Limited (Singtel) | Director | May 2011–July 2021 | Not disclosed |
| Singapore Telecommunications Limited (Singtel) | Special Advisor | Oct 2021–Sep 2023 | Not disclosed |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| NewSmith Capital Partners LLP | Founding Partner & Director | Since 2003 | Manages Asia Pacific offices |
| Cluny Capital Limited | Owner & Director | Since 2007 | — |
- No current public company directorships disclosed beyond AVGO .
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Compensation Committee (member), NESG (Nominating, Environmental, Social & Governance) Committee (member) .
- Committee activity: Compensation Committee met 5 times; NESG Committee met 4 times in fiscal 2024 .
- Board independence and leadership: Independent director; Board separates Chair/CEO and has a Lead Independent Director (Eddy W. Hartenstein) .
- Attendance: Board held 8 meetings; each director attended at least 75% of Board and committee meetings; all nominees attended the 2024 annual meeting .
- Ownership guidelines: Non-employee directors must hold 5x annual cash retainer; all non-employee directors are in compliance as of the record date .
- Anti-hedging/pledging: Hedging and pledging are prohibited absent limited exceptions; no executive officer or director other than Dr. Samueli has pledged shares .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount / Terms | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $105,000 | |
| Committee membership fees | $10,000 (Compensation Committee) + $10,000 (NESG Committee) | |
| Total cash earned FY2024 (Low) | $125,000 | |
| Annual equity (RSU) target (FY2024 policy) | $250,000 | |
| RSU shares granted to Low (Apr 22, 2024) | 1,890 shares | |
| Stock awards fair value (Low, FY2024) | $227,567 | |
| RSU vesting schedule (directors) | Vest in full on earlier of 1-year anniversary or next annual meeting | |
| FY2025 policy update (effective Dec 2024) | RSU target increased to $275,000 |
Performance Compensation
| Component | Performance Metrics | Target/Threshold/Max | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Director equity (RSUs) | None (service-based vesting only) | N/A | RSUs vest time-based; no options or PSUs for directors |
| Meeting fees | None disclosed | N/A | Compensation structure lists retainers and committee fees; no meeting fees |
Directors are not paid bonuses or performance-based equity; equity is solely RSUs with service-based vesting .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Entity | Relationship | Status | Potential Interlock/Conflict Disclosure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singapore Telecommunications Limited | Former Director (2011–2021); Special Advisor (2021–2023) | Past | AVGO discloses that from time to time it transacts at arm’s length with entities where directors have relationships; no specific related-party transaction involving Low is disclosed |
- Procedures: All related party transactions are reviewed/approved by the Audit Committee; independence impacts considered .
Expertise & Qualifications
| Expertise | Status |
|---|---|
| Business Development & Strategy | ✔ |
| Executive Leadership | ✔ |
| Finance/Accounting | ✔ |
| Global Business | ✔ |
Equity Ownership
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shares beneficially owned (Feb 21, 2025) | 113,050 | Less than 1% of outstanding shares |
| Ownership as % of shares outstanding | <1% | “*” per proxy table denotes <1% |
| RSUs vesting within 60 days | 1,890 | Counted in beneficial ownership; standard director RSU holding |
| Shares pledged as collateral | None | No pledging by directors other than Dr. Samueli; no indication of Low pledging |
| Ownership guidelines compliance | In compliance | All non-employee directors meet guidelines |
Governance Assessment
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Board effectiveness: Low brings deep Asia-Pacific capital markets and corporate finance experience, and serves on Compensation and NESG—committees central to pay-for-performance oversight, succession planning, governance policy, and ESG program oversight; both committees were active in FY2024 (5 and 4 meetings, respectively) .
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Alignment and independence: Cash pay aligns with role (retainer plus committee fees totaling $125k); equity entirely in RSUs with standard one-year/next-annual-meeting vesting; he is independent and meets director ownership guidelines, with no hedging/pledging (positive alignment signals) .
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Conflicts/related-party: Prior Singtel ties noted, but no related-party transactions involving Low are disclosed; AVGO maintains formal Audit Committee approval processes for any related-party dealings (mitigates conflict risk) .
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Attendance/engagement: Board-wide attendance at least 75% and all nominees attended the 2024 annual meeting; independent directors hold regular executive sessions (supports effective oversight) .
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Shareholder sentiment context: 2024 say-on-pay passed with 61% support; Board increased transparency on CEO succession and compensation structure—relevant to Compensation Committee oversight where Low serves (Board responsiveness helps investor confidence) .
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RED FLAGS: None disclosed specific to Low. No pledging, no related-party transactions, no meeting fee incentives, and standard RSU-only director equity reduce misalignment risks .