Katherine Murray
Core Laboratories Inc. /DE/About Katherine Murray
Katherine Murray (age 63) is an independent director of Core Laboratories Inc. (CLB) since 2022 and serves on the Audit Committee; she is designated an “audit committee financial expert.” Her background spans 33 years in energy finance and public accounting, including senior roles at McDermott International and El Paso Corporation; she earned a BBA with a minor in Accounting from the University of St. Thomas and is a member of the Texas Society of CPAs .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDermott International, Inc. | VP & Regional CFO, Worldwide Finance Operations; VP & Treasurer; Investor Relations | 2013–2018; specific roles 2015–2018 and 2016–2017 | Led capital structure optimization, global lender relations; IR outreach in U.S. and Europe |
| El Paso Corporation (formerly Tenneco Gas) | Senior Vice President, Tax | 2001–2012 (progressive roles 1991–2012) | Oversaw ~$600M annual taxes; M&A execution including $3B sale to Kinder Morgan in 2012 |
| Arthur Andersen | Energy tax practice | Early career | Public accounting foundation in energy sector |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coalition for the Homeless (Houston/Harris County) | Chief Financial Officer | Since Jan 2024 | Non-profit financial leadership |
| Foundation for the Women’s Energy Network | Chairman of the Board; Finance & Communications Committee member | Jan 2021–Dec 2023 | Governance and finance oversight at sector non-profit |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments, chair roles, and expertise:
- Audit Committee member; qualifies as audit committee financial expert .
- Post-2025 meeting, Murray will join the Compensation Committee (third member), while remaining on Audit; Audit will comprise Carnes (Chair), Murray, and Anastasio .
- Independence status: Board affirmatively determined Murray is independent under NYSE standards and SEC rules .
- Attendance and engagement: 100% attendance at Board and applicable committee meetings in 2024; directors also attended the 2024 annual meeting .
- Lead Independent Director: Martha Carnes serves as Lead Director and Audit Chair .
- Executive sessions: Independent directors meet in executive session; Lead Director presides .
- Shareholder support signal: 2025 election results—Katherine Murray received 39,747,197 votes For, 582,394 Withheld, with 2,182,232 broker non-votes, indicating strong investor confidence .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 (Approved/Effective) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base annual cash retainer ($) | 70,000 | 70,000 | 75,000 (effective Jan 1, 2025) |
| Audit Committee member fee ($) | 7,500 | 7,500 (implicit in total fees) | 7,500 (unchanged) |
| Committee chair fees ($) | N/A for Murray | N/A for Murray | N/A for Murray |
| Total cash paid to Murray ($) | 77,500 | 77,500 | TBD (structure noted; base raised) |
| Meeting fees | None disclosed | None disclosed | None disclosed |
Performance Compensation
| Grant Year | Grant Effective Date | Shares Granted | Grant Date Basis | Grant Date Fair Value ($) | Vesting End Date | Performance Criteria |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Apr 1, 2023 | 6,419 | Closing price Jan 13, 2023 | 141,288 | Apr 1, 2024 | None; time-based RS |
| 2024 | Apr 1, 2024 | 9,317 | Closing price Jan 10, 2024 | 159,236 | Apr 1, 2025 | None; time-based RS |
| 2025 | Apr 1, 2025 | 8,067 | Closing price Jan 14, 2025 ($18.59) | Amount computed on basis; number approved | Apr 1, 2026 | None; time-based RS |
- Change-in-control provisions: Outstanding director restricted shares vest upon a change in control; death/disability also accelerate vesting per plan .
- Hedging/pledging restrictions: Company prohibits hedging, derivatives, margining, and pledging of Company securities by directors .
- Minimum stock ownership guideline: 5× prior-year base retainer; directors have five years to comply; all current directors in compliance .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company/Institution | Type | Role | Interlock/Conflict Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| None disclosed | Public company | — | No other public company directorships disclosed in biography; no compensation committee interlocks noted in 2024 and 2023 disclosures |
| Coalition for the Homeless | Non-profit | CFO | External non-profit role; no related-party transaction involving CLB disclosed |
| Foundation for the Women’s Energy Network | Non-profit | Chair; committee member | External non-profit role; no related-party transaction involving CLB disclosed |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Financial leadership across capital markets, tax, treasury, FP&A, internal controls; public accounting background; international lender relations .
- Audit committee financial expert designation; strengths aligned to Audit oversight and compensation governance .
- Education: BBA with Accounting minor (University of St. Thomas); professional memberships (Texas Society of CPAs) .
Equity Ownership
| Data Point | 2023 Snapshot | 2024 Snapshot | 2025 Snapshot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership (shares) | 5,485 (as of Mar 14, 2024) | — | 11,904 (as of Mar 26, 2025) |
| Ownership % of outstanding | <1% | — | <1% (based on 46,702,192 shares) |
| Unvested director RS outstanding | 6,419 (granted 2023; unvested as of Dec 31, 2023) | 9,317 (granted 2024; unvested as of Dec 31, 2024) | 8,067 (approved for 2025) |
| Insider filing timeliness | 2023: no Murray-specific delinquency disclosed; five late Form 4s pertained to NEOs | — | 2024: Company believes all required Section 16 reports timely filed |
| Ownership guidelines compliance | In compliance (board-wide statement) | In compliance | In compliance |
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness and engagement: Murray’s audit expertise and 100% attendance strengthen oversight, particularly across financial reporting, internal controls, and cyber/data privacy oversight delegated to Audit .
- Signals of investor confidence: Strong reelection support in 2025; say‑on‑pay garnered broad support in 2024 (95.2% approval), reflecting perceived alignment of executive pay with performance—supportive of overall governance stance during her tenure .
- Conflicts and related‑party exposure: No related party transactions >$120,000 involving directors or immediate family in 2024; policy framework requires Audit review and written policy for related party approvals . Similar “none” disclosure in 2023 .
- Compensation alignment for directors: Balanced cash retainer plus modest, time‑based equity; no meeting fees; strict anti‑hedging/pledging; robust ownership guidelines—supports skin‑in‑the‑game without excessive risk-taking .
- Committee evolution: Addition to Compensation Committee post‑2025 should extend Murray’s influence on pay governance; Compensation Committee uses independent consultant (Meridian) and maintains no interlocks, mitigating structural conflicts .
Director Compensation Summary (Murray)
| Year | Cash Fees ($) | Stock Awards ($) | Total ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 77,500 | 141,288 | 218,788 |
| 2024 | 77,500 | 159,236 | 236,736 |
RED FLAGS
- None identified: Independence affirmed; no related‑party transactions; anti‑hedging/pledging policy; strong attendance; robust shareholder support in election and say‑on‑pay .
Overall, Katherine Murray brings deep finance and audit expertise with clean independence and attendance records, modest director pay structure, strong shareholder support, and no disclosed conflicts—supporting investor confidence in CLB’s board oversight .