William H. Jones
Coca-Cola ConsolidatedAbout William H. Jones
Independent director of Coca-Cola Consolidated (COKE) since 2011; age 69. President of Columbia International University (CIU) since February 2024; previously CIU Chancellor (2017–2024) and CIU President (2007–2017). Academic credential noted as D.Min; longtime academic leader with ethics-oriented profile.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia International University | President | Feb 2024–present | Oversees academic institution; ethics-focused leadership |
| Columbia International University | Chancellor | Jul 2017–Jan 2024 | Senior leadership; strategy and governance |
| Columbia International University | President | 2007–2017 | Executive leadership; operational management |
| Columbia International University | Provost & Senior VP; faculty | Pre‑2007; teaching since 1990 | Academic administration and instruction |
| Crossover Communications International | President, International Leadership Team | 2007–2017 | Mission leadership; international oversight |
| South Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities | Board of Trustees & Finance Committee member | Through 2017 | Sector advocacy; financial oversight |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia International University | President | Current |
| Crossover Communications International | International Leadership Team President | Prior role |
| South Carolina Independent Colleges & Universities | Board of Trustees & Finance Committee | Prior role |
Board Governance
- Independence: The Board determined Jones is independent under Nasdaq standards; review considered ordinary‑course beverage sales to CIU and affiliates (Jones is CIU President; previously Chancellor). Independence affirmed and Audit/Compensation committees comprised of independent directors.
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee member; not a chair. Audit met 4 times in fiscal 2024; Board met 5 times.
- Attendance: All incumbent directors attended ≥75% of Board and committee meetings in fiscal 2024; 11 of 12 attended the 2024 annual meeting.
- Board structure: Controlled company under Nasdaq (controlling stockholder >50% voting power), so majority independence not required; Lead Independent Director (Dennis A. Wicker) reappointed March 2025.
Fixed Compensation
| Metric | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | 196,400 | 196,400 |
Director fee structure (non‑employee directors):
- Base annual retainer $190,000; Audit Chair +$20,000; Compensation Chair +$15,000; Lead Independent Director +$20,000; $1,600 per Audit/Compensation/Executive Committee meeting attended. Jones’s total ($196,400) aligns with base retainer plus four Audit Committee meetings.
Director deferral plan available to defer fees into mutual fund alternatives; payouts per plan elections.
Performance Compensation
| Component | Presence | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Equity grants (RSUs/Options/DSUs) | None disclosed | Director compensation shown as cash fees; no equity awards reported. |
| Performance‑metric pay | None disclosed | No director pay tied to EBIT/FCF/Revenue; these metrics apply to executives only. |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current public company boards | None disclosed in proxy biography for Jones. |
| Notable private/academic boards | SC Independent Colleges & Universities (prior); CIU leadership roles. |
| Potential interlocks/conflicts | Ordinary‑course beverage sales to CIU and affiliates (Jones is CIU President); Board deemed within independence standards; related‑party transactions overseen under policy. |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Academic leadership (President/Chancellor/Provost), ethics orientation, and board experience.
- Recognized for “strong character” and ethics; long‑tenured institutional management experience.
Equity Ownership
| Class | Shares Beneficially Owned | % of Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common Stock | 100 | <1% | Held jointly with spouse (footnote 2). |
Policy safeguards:
- Insider Trading Policy prohibits hedging or short selling of Company securities for all directors; also prohibits directors/officers from using Company securities as collateral in a margin account.
Insider Trades
| Source | Coverage | Observations |
|---|---|---|
| GuruFocus Insider Tracker | Historical Form 4 filings | Jones shows 0 Form 4 transactions in COKE on the tracker. |
| SEC Filing Data (COKE insiders list) | Insider roster | Lists Jones among insiders; individual Form 4 activity not evident on the summary page. |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent status; Audit Committee membership with strong committee independence; controlled company mitigated via Lead Independent Director; robust related‑party review and special committee usage; prohibition on hedging/short selling/pledging enhances alignment discipline.
- Concerns/RED FLAGS: Controlled company reduces majority‑independence requirement; Jones’s direct association with CIU triggers recurring ordinary‑course transactions (monitor for scale/materiality); low personal share ownership (100 shares) limits direct economic alignment.
- Compensation/Alignment signals: Cash‑only director pay with stable fees year‑over‑year; no equity grants or performance‑linked director compensation; deferral plan exists but not equity‑based—suggests limited pay‑for‑performance alignment for directors but avoids equity overhang in a low‑float stock.
Overall: Jones fits the profile of an ethics‑focused, independent director with audit oversight experience. Investors should monitor related‑party exposures involving CIU, while noting that the Board’s policies and committee review processes currently support independence determinations.