Christophe Beck
Director at DAL
Board
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
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecolab Inc. | Chairman & CEO | May 2022–present | Leads global sustainability and operations; board chair with oversight experience |
| Ecolab Inc. | President & CEO | Jan 2021–May 2022 | Directed enterprise strategy and performance |
| Ecolab Inc. | President & COO | Apr 2019–Jan 2021 | Led global operations and execution |
| Nestlé | Executive positions | 1991–2006 | Senior commercial and operational leadership across regions |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecolab Inc. | Director (Chairman); Safety, Health & Environment Committee member | Current | Board leadership; sustainability oversight |
| GREATER MSP (Minneapolis–Saint Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership) | Chair | Current | SAF ecosystem leadership; Minnesota SAF Hub collaboration noted by Delta |
| Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation | Director | Current | Community and philanthropy governance |
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
| Component | 2024 Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fees Earned or Paid in Cash | $10,000 | Pro‑rated cash retainer following Dec 12, 2024 appointment |
| Stock Awards | $0 | 2024 annual director equity grant (4,040 restricted shares) was made June 20, 2024 to then‑serving directors; Beck joined later and did not receive that grant |
| All Other Compensation | $0 | No director flight benefit tax reimbursements reported for Beck in 2024 |
| Total | $10,000 |
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
| Director Performance‑Based Components | Performance‑Linked? | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Cash retainer | No | Fixed cash retainer; no performance formula |
| Annual restricted stock grant | No | Time‑based vesting to next annual meeting; not contingent on performance metrics |
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
| Holder | Beneficial Ownership (as of Apr 18, 2025) | % of Shares Outstanding | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christophe Beck | 0 shares (dash reported) | <1% (each individual <1%) | Non‑employee director appointed Dec 12, 2024 |
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 .