Suni Harford
About Suni P. Harford
Independent, non-management director of Capital One since 2024 (age 62). Harford was appointed on February 28, 2024 effective April 1, 2024, and serves on the Audit Committee and Risk Committee. She is an audit committee financial expert, with 30+ years in risk, compliance, and banking, including President of UBS Asset Management through February 2024 and prior senior leadership roles at Citigroup. No related-party transactions were identified at appointment, and she receives standard director compensation.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| UBS Asset Management | President; Chair of UBS AM Executive Committee and Risk Committee | Oct 2019 – Feb 2024 | Led sustainability/impact as UBS Group Executive Board Lead (Apr 2021 – Feb 2024) |
| UBS Asset Management | Head of Investments (traditional asset classes and UBS O’Connor) | Jul 2017 – Sep 2019 | Oversight of multi-asset investment platforms |
| Citigroup, Inc. | Various senior roles; most recently Regional Head of Markets, North America | ~25 years (prior to 2017) | Member, Citibank Pension Plan Investment Committee; Director, Citibank Canada |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Status/Timing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| World Economic Forum Global Future Council on Investing | Co-Chair | Prior role (dates not specified) | Global investing council leadership |
| Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) | Board seat | Prior role (dates not specified) | Industry association board |
| Securities Industry and Financial Management Association (SIFMA) | Board seat | Prior role (dates not specified) | Industry association board |
| Bob Woodruff Foundation | Chair, Board of Directors | Current (as of 2024 proxy) | Veteran-related philanthropy leadership |
| Veterans on Wall Street | Founding sponsor | Ongoing involvement | Received U.S. Army Outstanding Civilian Service Award |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee and Risk Committee; designated Audit Committee Financial Expert by the Board.
- Independence: Serves on committees comprised entirely of independent directors; the Board indicates all committees are composed of independent members.
- Attendance: In 2024, the Board held 14 meetings; all directors attended ≥75% of Board and committee meetings except one director (not Harford). All then-serving directors attended the 2024 Annual Stockholder Meeting.
- Tenure: Director since 2024; stood for election in May 2024.
Fixed Compensation
| Component (USD) | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Fees | $0 (not on Board in 2023) | $93,333 |
| Stock Awards (RSUs, grant-date fair value) | $0 | $252,702 (includes a pro-rated award for service from Apr 1–May 1, 2024) |
| All Other Compensation | $0 | $17,064 |
| Total | $0 | $363,099 |
Notes: Stock awards reflect FASB ASC 718 fair value; Harford was appointed April 1, 2024 and received pro-rated equity for the partial service period.
Performance Compensation
- Director equity is time-based RSUs; no options or performance share units were disclosed for directors in 2024. Grant-date fair value of Harford’s 2024 RSUs: $252,702.
- Outstanding RSUs as of December 31, 2024: 1,779 units.
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current public company boards | None |
| Potential interlocks with COF customers/suppliers/competitors | None disclosed |
| Related-party transactions | None; company reported no related-party transactions at appointment |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Risk management and compliance leadership across global financial institutions; prior president of UBS Asset Management and chair of its AM Risk Committee.
- Audit Committee Financial Expert as determined by the Board, reflecting deep financial oversight competence.
- Sustainability/ESG oversight experience as UBS Group Executive Board Lead for sustainability and impact.
- Capital markets and trading experience (Citigroup Regional Head of Markets, North America).
Equity Ownership
| Metric | 2024 (as of Feb 6, 2024) | 2025 (as of Feb 4, 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Common Stock Beneficially Owned | — | — |
| Stock That May Be Acquired within 60 Days (incl. deferred RSUs per table methodology) | — | 1,779 |
| Total Beneficial Ownership | — | 1,779 (<1%) |
| RSUs for which delivery is deferred | — | 1,779 |
Initial filing: Form 3 (April 3, 2024) reported no securities beneficially owned at the time of appointment.
Governance Assessment
- Positives: Strong risk and audit credentials; designated Audit Committee Financial Expert; assignment to Audit and Risk aligns with prior leadership in risk and sustainability at UBS. Independence reinforced by independent-only committees and absence of related-party transactions; attendance and engagement appear robust at the Board level.
- Alignment and incentives: Compensation mix skews to equity via RSUs (c. 70% stock by value in 2024), with modest cash retainer; outstanding 1,779 RSUs as of year-end 2024 supports alignment, though absolute ownership remains <1% given her new tenure.
- RED FLAGS: None disclosed regarding related-party transactions, hedging/pledging, or option repricings. No attendance concerns flagged for Harford in 2024.
Overall: Harford’s profile (risk oversight, markets expertise, ESG leadership) strengthens COF’s board effectiveness in audit and risk supervision with no apparent conflicts, and a director compensation structure that is equity-oriented and aligned with shareholders.