Thomas J. Reddin
DELUXEAbout Thomas J. Reddin
Independent director of Deluxe Corporation since 2014 (age 64). Managing Partner at Red Dog Ventures LLC, with deep experience scaling digital businesses (LendingTree CEO/COO/CMO, early online lending exchange) and consumer marketing (Coca‑Cola VP Consumer Marketing; Kraft General Foods). Certified in Cybersecurity Risk Oversight (SEI Carnegie Mellon/NACD), and determined independent under NYSE standards; he attended at least 75% of board and committee meetings in 2024 (board held 6 meetings) .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Dog Ventures LLC | Managing Partner (founder) | Since 2007; Managing Partner since 2009 | Focused on growing early-stage digital companies; expertise in data/analytics, AI/ML, cybersecurity, digital marketing |
| LendingTree.com | CEO; President & COO; CMO | 1999–2007 | Built/scaled online lending exchange; data-driven growth credentials |
| Richard Petty Motorsports | Chief Executive Officer | 2008–2009 | Operational leadership in a complex, performance-driven environment |
| Coca‑Cola USA | VP, Consumer Marketing | 1990s (years not specified) | Led Coca‑Cola brand, played lead role in bottled water introduction in U.S. |
| Kraft General Foods | Various marketing roles | 17 years (dates not specified) | Consumer goods brand/marketing leadership |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Status | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asbury Automotive Group (NYSE: ABG) | Chair of the Board | Current | Board leadership; governance oversight |
| Tanger Factory Outlet Centers (NYSE: SKT) | Compensation Committee Chair | Current | Designs/oversees CEO/NEO pay; pay-for-performance alignment |
| Premier Farnell PLC; Valassis Communications; R.H. Donnelley | Director (prior) | Prior | Audit/compensation/nominating governance exposure |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments (2025): Compensation & Talent; Corporate Governance Chair; independent director status affirmed by board; DLX board has Independent Chair (separate from CEO) and regular executive sessions of independent directors .
- 2024 committee service: Compensation & Talent; Corporate Governance (member) – Corporate Governance Chair transitioned from Don McGrath to Reddin by 2025 .
- Attendance and engagement: Board met 6 times in 2024; each director (including Reddin) attended ≥75% of board/committee meetings; Compensation & Talent met 6 times; Corporate Governance met 4 times, indicating active governance workload .
- Independence and policies: Strict related‑party transaction policy (Audit & Finance pre‑approves >$120k items); no related‑person transactions since start of 2024; hedging/pledging of DLX stock prohibited; stock ownership guidelines in place .
Fixed Compensation
| Year | Cash Fees ($) | Board Retainer ($) | Committee Fees Structure (Annual) | Total Cash ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 113,167 | 85,000 (board retainer) | Non‑chair member: Audit & Finance $15,000; Compensation & Talent $10,000; Corporate Governance $10,000; Chair retainers: Audit $30,000, Comp & Talent $25,000, Corporate Governance $20,000; Independent Chair $110,000; site visit/education $1,500 each (up to 5) | 113,167 |
| 2023 | 105,000 | 85,000 (board retainer) | Audit & Finance chair $28,000; Comp & Talent chair $20,000; Corporate Governance chair $15,000; non‑chair fees same as 2024; Finance combined into Audit in Oct‑2023 | 105,000 |
Notes: Directors may elect to receive fees in stock or defer into RSUs of equal value (quarterly), enhancing alignment .
Performance Compensation
| Grant Year | RSUs Granted (#) | Grant Date Fair Value ($) | Grant/Close Price | Vesting | Dividend Equivalents | Change‑of‑Control / Other Vesting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 7,980 (for each re‑elected director) | 159,999 | $20.05 close (Apr 25, 2024) | Vest on Apr 24, 2025 (AM date) | Accrue; paid at vest | Immediate upon change of control, or termination due to death, disability, retirement per guidelines |
| 2023 | 10,402 | 149,997 | $14.42 close (Apr 26, 2023) | Vest on Apr 25, 2024 (AM date) | Accrue; paid at vest | Immediate upon change of control, or qualifying termination |
Directors did not receive stock options in 2023 or 2024 .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
- Current public boards: ABG (Chair), SKT (Compensation Chair) .
- Potential interlocks: None disclosed involving DLX executives/comp committee interlocks; DLX’s Compensation & Talent Committee members are all independent; no insider participation and no reciprocal interlocks disclosed .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Digital/data technology, AI/ML, cybersecurity oversight, internet lead generation, SEO/product management; 9 years building online lending exchange; 17 years consumer goods spanning Kraft and Coca‑Cola; cybersecurity oversight certification (SEI/NACD), strengthening risk and data/privacy governance .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | % of Class | RSUs Included | Deferral Detail | Unvested RSUs at 12/31/2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas J. Reddin | 43,689 | <1% | 18,382 (incl. 10,402 via deferrals) | Director may defer fees/equity into RSUs; subject to dividend equivalents paid at vest | 7,980 (2024 grant vesting 4/24/2025) |
- Director stock ownership guidelines: ≥5x annual board retainer within 5 years; all non‑employee directors >5 years are compliant; others on track; share retention requirements apply until guideline met .
- Hedging/pledging: Prohibited for directors/executives .
Governance Assessment
- Committee leadership and independence: Positive – chairs Corporate Governance; member of Compensation & Talent; board affirms independence; active meeting cadence .
- Alignment: Positive – meaningful annual RSU grants with deferral option; director stock ownership guidelines; prohibition on hedging/pledging .
- Conflicts/related‑party: No related‑person transactions since start of 2024 (and none requiring disclosure in 2023), mitigating conflict risk .
- Shareholder signals: 2024 Say‑on‑Pay support was weak (For 23,798,765; Against 11,715,335; Abstain 193,234), driving board‑led engagement and compensation design changes; 2025 support improved markedly (For 32,569,595; Against 2,049,132; Abstain 189,200) – strong responsiveness .
- RED FLAGS: 2024 low Say‑on‑Pay approval indicated investor concerns (since addressed via design/target transparency changes) . No pledging/hedging, no related‑party transactions, and independent compensation consultant (FW Cook, no conflicts) reduce governance risk .
Overall: Reddin’s technology/cyber and pay governance expertise, committee leadership, and equity‑heavy compensation structure support board effectiveness and investor alignment, while the board’s measurable response to 2024 Say‑on‑Pay feedback (and improved 2025 vote) indicates constructive governance oversight .