Dean Newton
EvergyAbout Dean Newton
Dean A. Newton, age 54, is an independent director of Evergy (EVRG) since 2024. He is President and CEO of Delta Dental of Kansas and Surency Life & Health Insurance Co.; he holds a BA from the University of Kansas (1993) and a JD from NYU School of Law (1996). He was appointed to Evergy’s Board effective October 15, 2024 and serves on the Operations Committee; the Board determined he is independent under Nasdaq and Evergy standards .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delta Dental of Kansas | President & CEO | 2020–present | Leads largest dental insurer in Kansas; recognized for innovation and culture |
| Delta Dental of Kansas | Managing Director; prior leadership incl. Chief Marketing & Sales Officer | 2014–2020; prior years | Financial, legal, marketing, employee engagement leadership |
| Surency Life & Health Insurance Co. (subsidiary of Delta Dental) | Chair of Board; President & CEO | 2020–present | Health/insurance products in >30 states |
| Kansas House of Representatives | Member | 2000–2005 | Legislative experience, community/political relations |
| Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP (now Dentons) | Attorney | Early career | Legal training and practice foundation |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas Chamber of Commerce | Board member | Current | Non-profit governing role |
| Wichita & Greater Kansas City Chambers of Commerce | Board member | Current | Regional civic leadership |
| Greater Kansas City Community Foundation | Board member | Current | Philanthropy governance |
| Kansas City Area Development Council | Board member | Current | Economic development |
| United Way of Greater Kansas City | Board member | Current | Community impact |
| CommunityAmerica Credit Union | Director; Board Chair | Director 2015–2023; Chair 2017–2021 | Prior financial institution board leadership |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Operations Committee member as of appointment; Operations Committee had six meetings in 2024 across combined predecessor committees; committee attendance was 100% in 2024; Board determined all Operations members are independent .
- Independence: Board determined 11 of 12 nominees (including Newton) are independent; Newton specifically determined independent at appointment .
- Attendance: Board held four meetings in 2024; each incumbent director nominee attended greater than 75% of aggregate Board and committee meetings served during 2024 .
- Chair/Lead structure: Combined Chair/CEO (David A. Campbell) with a Lead Independent Director (B. Anthony Isaac); standing committee chairs are independent; executive sessions held regularly .
- Stock ownership guidelines: Non-employee directors must hold Evergy stock equal to at least 5× the annual cash retainer within five years of initial election; policy prohibits short selling, hedging, or pledging by any employee or director .
Fixed Compensation
2024 Director Retainer Structure
| Category | Amount ($) |
|---|---|
| Annual Base (All Directors) – cash, paid quarterly | 115,000 |
| Lead Independent Director – cash | 30,000 |
| Committee Chair – Audit | 20,000 |
| Committee Chair – Compensation & Leadership Development | 20,000 |
| Committee Chair – Finance | 20,000 |
| Committee Chair – Nominating, Governance, and Sustainability | 20,000 |
| Committee Co-Chair – Operations (each) | 20,000 |
| Annual Equity Retainer (All Directors) | 155,000 |
Dean Newton – 2024 Actual Director Compensation
| Fees Earned/Paid in Cash ($) | Stock Awards ($) | Nonqualified Deferred Comp Earnings ($) | All Other Compensation ($) | Total ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24,375 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24,375 |
- Notes: Newton joined after the May 8, 2024 annual meeting and did not receive the 2024 annual non-employee director equity retainer; received pro rata cash payment based on October 1, 2024 start date .
Performance Compensation
| Element | Structure | 2024 Applicability to Newton |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Equity Retainer | Time-based equity retainer; may be deferred into DSUs; credited with dividend equivalents; distributed after Board service ends per elections | Not granted due to post-annual meeting appointment |
| Options | Not used for directors | N/A (no options) |
| Performance-based metrics (revenue/EBITDA/TSR/ESG) | Not applicable to director pay (directors receive retainers and equity; no non-equity incentive plan compensation) | N/A (no such awards to directors in 2024) |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Type | Role | Interlock/Conflict Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public companies | — | None disclosed | No compensation committee interlocks involving Newton; committee interlocks section lists other members; Newton not on CLD . |
| Private/non-profit boards | Multiple (see External Roles) | Director/Board Chair | Board determined ordinary-course charitable/commercial transactions were immaterial; no related party transactions requiring Item 404(a) disclosure since FY2024 . |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Qualifications include management and leadership, substantial financial and legal expertise, and extensive experience in marketing, employee engagement, and innovation .
- Board core competencies attributed to Newton include strategy development, regulation and compliance, compensation/culture, accounting/finance/investment management, risk management, operational oversight, customer experience, community/political relations, and ESG .
Equity Ownership
Security Ownership (as of March 4, 2025)
| Name | Beneficially Owned Shares (#) | Share Equivalents to be Settled in Stock (#) | Total Share Interest (#) | Percent of Class (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dean A. Newton | — | — | — | * (less than 1%) |
- Footnote notes Newton joined after the annual meeting and did not receive the annual non-employee director equity retainer .
- Directors may elect to defer equity retainers into DSUs; DSUs accrue dividend equivalents and settle 1-for-1 in stock after Board service ends .
- Stock ownership guideline: 5× cash retainer within five years of initial election (for Newton, by October 15, 2029) .
Governance Assessment
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Board effectiveness: Newton adds regional executive perspective from regulated insurance, with legal and finance expertise; assigned to Operations Committee overseeing power generation/transmission, safety, environmental and cybersecurity matters; committee independence and 100% attendance signal strong process discipline .
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Independence and conflicts: Board affirmed Newton’s independence; proxy and 8-K disclose no related party transactions (Item 404(a)) related to his selection; Evergy policies and committee structures emphasize independent oversight and executive sessions .
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Compensation and alignment: Newton received only a pro rata cash retainer in 2024, with no equity grant due to appointment timing; adherence to 5× ownership guideline within five years will be the key alignment test as equity accrues in 2025 and beyond; directors are prohibited from hedging/pledging .
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Shareholder confidence signals: Annual say-on-pay approval was ~96% in 2024 (for NEOs), supporting the broader governance environment; independent committee chairs and majority independent board (11 of 12 nominees) bolster investor confidence .
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RED FLAGS: None disclosed regarding attendance, related-party transactions, hedging/pledging, or director pay anomalies; initial absence of beneficial ownership reflects appointment timing rather than misalignment, but ownership build toward policy should be monitored .