Thomas McDonnell
EURONET WORLDWIDEAbout Thomas A. McDonnell
Thomas A. McDonnell (age 79) is an independent director and the Board’s Lead Independent Director at Euronet Worldwide (EEFT). He has served on Euronet’s Board since its incorporation in December 1996 and previously served on predecessor boards; he was appointed Lead Independent Director in September 2014 and reaffirmed by the Board in February 2025 . McDonnell’s career includes serving as CEO (1984–2012) and later non‑executive Chairman (2012) of DST Systems, and as President & CEO of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation (2013–2014). He holds a B.S. in Accounting (Rockhurst University) and an MBA (Wharton) .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| DST Systems, Inc. | Chief Executive Officer | 1984–2012 | Led public transaction processing company; deep financial/accounting experience |
| DST Systems, Inc. | Non‑Executive Chairman | Sep 12, 2012–Dec 31, 2012 | Governance leadership post‑CEO |
| DST Systems, Inc. | Treasurer | 1973–Sep 1995 | Corporate finance oversight |
| Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation | President & CEO | Jan 1, 2013–Dec 31, 2014 | Non‑profit executive leadership |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| ENDI Corp. | Director | Current | Audit Committee member |
Board Governance
- Independence: The Board determined all non‑employee directors (including McDonnell) are independent under Nasdaq standards, with recusal expectations for any deliberations involving affiliated organizations .
- Lead Independent Director: McDonnell has served as Lead Independent Director since September 2014; the Board unanimously appointed him as Lead Independent Director again in February 2025 to reinforce independent oversight .
- Committees: Member, Audit; Member, Compensation; Member, Nominating & Corporate Governance. The Audit Committee met 4 times in 2024; Compensation met 4; Nominating & Corporate Governance met 3 .
- Audit expertise: The Board determined each Audit Committee member is an “audit committee financial expert,” including McDonnell .
- Attendance: In 2024, each director attended at least 75% of Board and applicable committee meetings; Board met 4 times (Audit 4; Compensation 4; Nominating 3). Directors are encouraged to attend annual meetings; two directors attended the 2024 meeting (eight attended the 2023 meeting) .
- Interlocks/Conflicts: No Compensation Committee interlocks or Item 404 related‑party relationships among committee members (McDonnell included) in the most recent year .
Fixed Compensation (Director)
| Component | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $100,000 | Paid at beginning of term |
| Annual equity grant (Common Stock) | $160,000 | Granted at annual meeting; vests immediately |
| Lead Independent Director fee (cash) | $30,000 | Role‑based cash fee |
| Committee chair fees | Not applicable to McDonnell | Chairs: Audit $25k; Compensation $20k; Nominating $15k |
| Total 2024 director compensation (McDonnell) | $290,000 | $130,000 cash + $160,000 stock |
Additional grant mechanics (for 2024 director stock awards):
- Grant date: May 16, 2024 (date of annual meeting); grant‑date share value per director award: $115.27; awards vest immediately .
Performance Compensation
| Metric | Applies to Director Pay? | Vesting / Performance Feature |
|---|---|---|
| TSR / EPS / Operating metrics | No | Non‑employee director stock grants vest immediately; no performance conditions |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
- Current public/private boards: ENDI Corp. (Audit Committee) .
- Compensation Committee interlocks: None disclosed for McDonnell or the committee .
- Related‑party transactions: None disclosed for McDonnell; Board independence affirmed and recusal policy in place .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Financial and accounting leadership (CEO, Treasurer at DST), governance leadership (non‑executive chair), and non‑profit executive experience (Kauffman Foundation) .
- Audit committee financial expert designation via committee membership .
- Education: B.S. Accounting (Rockhurst University); MBA (Wharton School of Finance) .
Equity Ownership
| Metric | 2024 (Record Date: Mar 18, 2024) | 2025 (Record Date: Mar 17, 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership (shares) | 84,278 | 86,794 |
| Ownership % of shares outstanding | <1% | <1% |
| Director stock ownership guideline | 5x cash portion of annual retainer | 5x cash portion of annual retainer |
| McDonnell’s ownership multiple vs. guideline | 34x (as of 12/31/2023) | 89x (as of 12/31/2024) |
| Pledging/Hedging policy | Pledging prohibited without approval; hedging prohibited |
Insider trades (recent):
| Date | Transaction | Shares | Consideration | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 5, 2024 | Open‑market purchase | 3,206 | ~$300,915 |
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: McDonnell’s long tenure, reaffirmed Lead Independent Director role, and service across Audit/Compensation/Nominating committees (with audit financial expert status) support robust independent oversight and committee continuity .
- Alignment: Director compensation includes immediate‑vesting equity; combined with McDonnell’s ownership substantially exceeding the stock ownership guideline (89x cash retainer as of 12/31/2024), this indicates strong “skin‑in‑the‑game” alignment with shareholders .
- Conflicts/Red flags: No compensation committee interlocks or related‑party exposures disclosed. Company prohibits hedging and restricts pledging; no pledging disclosures for McDonnell. One insider purchase in 2024 is a positive signal of confidence .
- Shareholder feedback context: Say‑on‑pay support was ~86% in 2023 and ~78% in 2024; the Board and Compensation Committee engaged investors and committed changes (e.g., more stock awards vs. options, adding price‑hurdle/TSR‑like features), reflecting responsiveness to investor input .
Overall: McDonnell brings deep financial governance experience and sustained independent leadership. His strong ownership and broad committee participation bolster board effectiveness, with low conflict risk and constructive responsiveness to shareholder feedback .