Anne De Greef-Safft
BENCHMARK ELECTRONICSAbout Anne De Greef-Safft
Independent director since 2019 (age 62) with global operating experience in product development, marketing, sales, and manufacturing; BSEE/MSEE from KU Leuven and MBA from Babson; completed the Climate Leadership Certificate Program through Diligent . Tenure on BHE’s board is six years with service on Human Capital & Compensation and Nominating, Sustainability & Governance committees, aligning expertise with oversight of pay and ESG .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standex International (NYSE: SXI) | Group President, Food Service Equipment Group | 2015–2017 | Led operating group; senior P&L responsibility |
| Danaher (NYSE: DHR) | President of increasingly complex global operating companies | 12 years ending in 2015 | Multi-year leadership across engineering, marketing, sales, BD |
| ADS Consulting / Private Equity | Advisor to PE firms (incl. Windjammer) and portfolio companies | 2018–2024 | Strategic and operational consulting for portfolio optimization |
| Global manufacturing companies | Engineering, marketing, sales, BD leadership | Prior to 2015 | Built cross-functional operating expertise |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brady Corporation (NYSE: BRC) | Director | Joined Feb 2025 | Audit Committee |
| Ambarella, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMBA) | Director | Current; will not stand for re-election at June 2025 meeting | Compensation; Nominating & Governance |
| Ag Growth International (TSX: AFN) | Director | Since 2018 | Chair, Human Resources & Compensation; Governance & Sustainability |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Human Capital & Compensation; Nominating, Sustainability & Governance .
- Independence: Board determined all nominees except the CEO are independent under NYSE rules; she is independent .
- Attendance: Board met 5 times in 2024; each director attended at least 75% of Board and committee meetings; committees held Audit 8, Compensation 4, Nominating/Sustainability/Governance 4 meetings .
- Executive sessions: Non-employee directors meet regularly without management .
- Related-party transactions: None since the beginning of last year; board reviews any proposed related-party transactions >$120,000 .
| Governance Element | Status |
|---|---|
| Board Chair separate from CEO | Yes |
| Committee chairs | Comp: Robert K. Gifford; Nom/Sust/Gov: Kenneth T. Lamneck; Audit: Lynn A. Wentworth |
| ESG oversight | Nom/Sust/Gov Committee has direct oversight; Sustainability Council operates cross-functionally |
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Board retainer (cash) | $70,000 | Standard non-employee director retainer |
| Human Capital & Compensation Committee member retainer | $10,000 | Member fee |
| Nominating, Sustainability & Governance Committee member retainer | $7,500 | Member fee |
| Total cash fees actually received (2024) | $87,500 | Reported 2024 non-employee director compensation table |
| Reimbursements | Reasonable travel expenses reimbursed | Policy |
Performance Compensation
| Equity Component | Grant Value | Vehicle | Vesting | Units Outstanding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual director equity grant (2024) | $170,000 | RSUs (time-based) | One-year vesting; grants at annual meeting starting 2024 | 4,038 RSUs unvested as of 12/31/2024 |
- No stock options or PSUs were granted to non-employee directors in 2024; directors are not covered by non-equity incentive, pension, or nonqualified deferred compensation plans .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Area | Detail |
|---|---|
| Compensation Committee interlocks (BHE) | None in 2024; committee members (including De Greef-Safft) had no interlocking relationships requiring disclosure |
| Shared directorships/conflicts | No related-party transactions disclosed; independence affirmed |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Product development, marketing, sales, and manufacturing leadership as a seasoned global executive .
- Engineering degrees (BSEE/MSEE) from KU Leuven; MBA from Babson College .
- Climate leadership credential via Diligent, supporting oversight of sustainability initiatives .
Equity Ownership
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Total beneficial ownership | 36,199 shares | Includes 4,038 RSUs vesting within 60 days of 3/21/2025 |
| % of shares outstanding | <1% | Less than 1% as disclosed |
| Unvested RSUs (12/31/2024) | 4,038 units | Standard one-year vesting |
| Pledged shares | Prohibited by policy (directors/executives cannot hedge or pledge) | Company-wide prohibition |
| Director ownership guideline | Minimum $350,000 within 5 years; all directors in compliance (including those progressing toward threshold) | Equivalent to 5x annual board retainer |
Governance Assessment
- Alignment: Committee service on Compensation and Nom/Sust/Gov leverages her operating and ESG credentials; independence and anti-hedging/pledging policy support investor alignment .
- Engagement: 2024 attendance met ≥75%; RSU structure with annual one-year vest aligns with ownership while avoiding pay-for-performance distortions in director compensation .
- Ownership: 36,199 shares beneficially owned with additional RSUs pending; director ownership guideline emphasizes skin-in-the-game, with board-wide compliance reported .
- Conflicts/Red Flags: No related-party transactions or committee interlocks disclosed; multi-board commitments (Brady, Ag Growth; Ambarella through June 2025) warrant standard workload monitoring but no specific conflicts identified by the company . Strong shareholder support on say-on-pay in 2024 (96% approval) signals broader confidence in compensation oversight processes that this director helps administer .