Christophe Beck

About Christophe Beck

Christophe Beck, age 57, joined Delta’s Board on December 12, 2024 and serves as an independent non‑employee director; he is Chairman and CEO of Ecolab Inc., and previously held senior roles at Ecolab and Nestlé from 1991–2006 . He is appointed to Delta’s Audit Committee (designated an Audit Committee Financial Expert) and Safety & Security Committee, bringing global leadership, sustainability and technology expertise to board oversight .

Past Roles

External Roles

Board Governance

• Committee assignments: Audit (Financial Expert) and Safety & Security; not a committee chair .
• Independence: Delta reports 12 of 14 director nominees are independent; all Audit and Personnel & Compensation Committee members are independent under NYSE and SEC rules; Beck is a non‑employee director and Audit member, indicating independence .
• Attendance and engagement: The Board met five times in 2024; each director serving during 2024 attended at least 75% of Board and applicable committee meetings; all directors attended the 2024 annual meeting; Audit met 9 times; Safety & Security met 5 times .
• Tenure: Joined Delta’s Board on December 12, 2024 .
• Executive sessions: The Board routinely held executive sessions without the CEO, presided over by the non‑executive Chair .

Fixed Compensation

Director compensation program (policy as of June 20, 2024):

• Annual Board cash retainer: $120,000 for non‑executive directors; $180,000 for non‑executive Chair .
• Annual equity grant: $200,000 in restricted stock (directors) and $320,000 for non‑executive Chair; vests at or shortly before the next annual meeting .
• Committee chair cash retainers: $30,000 (Audit), $25,000 (Personnel & Compensation), $20,000 (others) .

Performance Compensation

Delta’s non‑employee director compensation is structured as cash retainers and time‑based restricted stock; there are no performance metrics applied to director pay .

Other Directorships & Interlocks

• Public company board: Ecolab Inc. (Chairman & CEO; board member) .
• Regional SAF collaboration: As GREATER MSP Chair, Beck is linked to the Minnesota SAF Hub, which Delta co‑founded and advanced via a SAF blending facility collaboration with Flint Hills Resources; this is a cross‑sector coalition rather than a related‑party transaction, but establishes an information‑flow interlock with Delta’s SAF ecosystem .
• Related‑party monitoring: Delta’s Audit Committee reviews conflicts of interest and related‑party transactions subject to Item 404 of Regulation S‑K; no Beck‑related transactions are disclosed in the proxy .

Expertise & Qualifications

• Senior leadership and risk management: Over 30 years of senior leadership, including 17 years at Ecolab; current Chairman & CEO .
• Energy/sustainability: Significant sustainability domain expertise; unique SAF understanding through GREATER MSP chair role .
• Technology/cyber/digital: Scientific and technological background supports oversight of innovation and cyber risk .
• Global business: Led complex global businesses across Europe, Asia and North America .
• Financial oversight: Designated Audit Committee Financial Expert .

Equity Ownership

Stock ownership and alignment policies:

• Non‑employee directors must own shares equal to the greater of 5× the annual Board cash retainer or 35,000 shares; must hold at least 50% of net shares until guideline met; anti‑hedging and anti‑pledging apply .
• As of Dec 31, 2024, all non‑employee directors exceeded the required ownership level except three directors elected in 2023 or 2024; each has five years from election to comply, which applies to Beck .

Governance Assessment

• Board effectiveness: Beck strengthens Audit oversight (Financial Expert) and safety governance through Safety & Security service; committee workloads (Audit: 9 meetings; Safety & Security: 5) and board‑wide attendance thresholds indicate active oversight .
• Independence and conflicts: Independence affirmed via committee composition and board policy; Audit Committee oversight of Item 404 transactions is explicit; no Beck‑related related‑party transactions disclosed, mitigating conflict risk .
• Alignment signals: Beck held no DAL shares as of April 18, 2025, but director ownership guidelines provide a five‑year path to compliance and require retention of net shares, supporting eventual alignment; anti‑hedging/pledging reduces misalignment risk .
• Compensation structure: 2024 director pay increased modestly after FW Cook review (retainer +$10k; equity +$10k for directors), maintaining market alignment without performance levers in director pay; Beck’s 2024 cash fee was pro‑rated, and he did not receive the June 2024 equity grant due to his December appointment .
• Shareholder engagement context: Delta reports expanded engagement and 72% say‑on‑pay approval in 2024; while focused on executive pay, it supports broader governance credibility that can bolster investor confidence in board oversight .

RED FLAGS / Watchpoints:

• Ownership build‑up: Zero beneficial ownership at April 18, 2025; monitor progress toward five‑year ownership guideline compliance for alignment optics .
• SAF interlock: GREATER MSP chair role overlaps with Delta’s Minnesota SAF Hub collaboration; while not a related‑party transaction, monitor for perceived influence or preferential ecosystem decisions; Audit Committee conflict oversight is in place .