Aaron Erter
About Aaron M. Erter
Aaron M. Erter (age 51) is an independent director of Ball Corporation, appointed in 2024, serving on the Human Resources and Nominating/Corporate Governance Committees. He is the CEO of James Hardie Industries (since Sep 2022), with prior leadership roles at PLZ Corp (CEO), Sherwin‑Williams (global president Consumer & Industrial), Valspar (SVP/GM Consumer), and Stanley Black & Decker (sales/marketing). Education: BA Economics, The Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania); MBA, University of Notre Dame (Mendoza College of Business). His board credentials emphasize P&L leadership, strategy, product development, marketing, sales, and M&A execution .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLZ Corp | Chief Executive Officer | Not disclosed | Led specialty liquid/aerosol manufacturing; built high-performing teams |
| Sherwin‑Williams | Global President, Consumer & Industrial | Not disclosed | Led global businesses; strategy, product development, marketing, sales leadership |
| Valspar | SVP & GM, Consumer | Not disclosed | General management of Consumer business |
| Stanley Black & Decker | Various leadership roles (sales/marketing, Black & Decker and DEWALT) | 15 years | Commercial leadership across brands |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Hardie Industries PLC | Chief Executive Officer; Director | CEO since Sep 2022 | Public company board experience; building materials sector |
| Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity | Director | Not disclosed | Community impact governance |
| Pro Football Hall of Fame | Advisory Board Member | Not disclosed | Advisory governance |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Human Resources; Nominating/Corporate Governance .
- Chair roles: None disclosed .
- Independence: Board-determined independent; Ball’s board is 9 of 10 independent directors in 2025 .
- Attendance: In 2024 the Board held 6 meetings; all directors attended more than 75% of Board and committee meetings and attended the Annual Meeting .
- Executive sessions: Regular executive sessions of nonmanagement and independent directors; Lead Independent Director has a defined role .
- Risk oversight: HR Committee oversees compensation; Nominating/CG oversees ESG, IT/cybersecurity; Audit oversees financial/legal risks .
Fixed Compensation
| Element | Structure (2024) | Aaron Erter – 2024 Actual |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $90,000 | $52,673 (pro‑rated from June 3, 2024) |
| Committee chair fees | Audit $20k; HR $20k; Finance $15k; Nominating/CG $15k | None disclosed |
| Lead Independent Director fee | $30,000 | N/A (not LID) |
| Special meeting fee | $750 per meeting | Not disclosed |
| Equity – annual RSU (continuing directors) | $155,000 grant value (2,378 RSUs at $65.19 on Apr 24, 2024) | N/A (new director grant applies) |
| Equity – new director RSU | One-time $150,000 (2,154 RSUs at $69.66 on Jun 3, 2024) | $150,048 (2,154 RSUs) |
Total 2024 director compensation for Erter: $220,098 (Cash fees $52,673; Stock awards $150,048; Non‑equity incentive $17,377) .
Performance Compensation
| Component | Design | 2024 Outcome (Board-wide unless noted) | Aaron Erter – 2024 Actual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual incentive cash retainer | Target $15,000; range $0–$30,000; measured on Ball’s EVA-based plan | Performance factor: 200% of target (full-year) | $17,377 (pro‑rated from June 3, 2024) |
| Metric details (EVA plan) | EVA dollars vs target; governance uses 9% after‑tax hurdle; payouts up to 200% | 2024 actual EVA $365.6m vs target with max payout (200%) | Pro‑rated payout aligns with mid‑year appointment |
Ball’s compensation policies include independent consultant, anti‑hedging/anti‑pledging, robust clawback, and double‑trigger CIC (≤2x pay; no excise gross‑ups) .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Sector | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Hardie Industries PLC | Building materials | CEO; Director | Current public company directorship |
- Related-party/transactions: Ball’s policy mandates review/approval; board states relationships with companies where directors serve are arm’s‑length; no related-party items disclosed for Erter .
- Anti‑hedging/pledging: Directors prohibited from hedging, pledging, short selling and margin accounts .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Core credentials: Executive leadership across consumer/industrial sectors; P&L management; strategy; product development; marketing; sales; M&A .
- Board skills matrix: Governance, executive leadership, finance/accounting, operations/strategy, global business, public company board experience, sustainability .
- Education: Wharton BA Economics; Notre Dame MBA .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Common Shares Beneficially Owned | RSUs Outstanding | % of Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aaron M. Erter | 5 shares | 2,154 RSUs | * (<1%) | No pledging; anti‑pledging policy in place |
- Director stock ownership guideline: 5x the sum of fixed annual cash retainer and target annual incentive; five years to comply; as of Feb 20, 2025, Erter is “in process” of attaining required shares .
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent status; active roles on HR and Nominating/Corporate Governance committees; adherence to anti‑hedging/anti‑pledging; strong pay governance (independent consultant; clawback; double‑trigger CIC; no excise gross‑ups) .
- Alignment: One‑time RSU grant aligns interests; annual incentive retainer tied to EVA performance (200% factor in 2024) .
- Engagement & attendance: Board met 6 times in 2024; all directors >75% attendance; hybrid annual meeting attendance .
- Shareholder sentiment: Advisory say‑on‑pay averaged 93% approval over the last three years, indicating supportive investor feedback on compensation practices overseen by HR Committee (of which Erter is a member) .
- Potential risk indicators: Dual commitments (CEO of James Hardie plus two Ball committees) warrant typical time‑availability monitoring; Ball’s nominating process explicitly screens for sufficient time and independence; no related‑party or pledge/hedge issues disclosed for Erter .
No RED FLAGS identified in filings for conflicts (related‑party transactions), hedging/pledging, low attendance, or Section 16(a) delinquencies related to Erter. Ball disclosed two late/erroneous filings for other persons in 2024/2025; none for Erter .