Axel Meier
About Axel Meier
Axel Meier (age 61) has served on Fluence’s Board since 2020, following service on Fluence Energy, LLC’s board since January 2020; he is a member of the Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee and the Finance & Investment Committee, and does not qualify as an “independent director” under Nasdaq rules. He is Chief Financial Officer of Siemens Smart Infrastructure (since April 2019), previously CFO of Siemens Building Technologies (2015–2019), and began his Siemens career in 1988; he holds a degree in Financial Business Management from the University of Siegen and sits on the board of Siemens Government Technologies, Inc. .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siemens Smart Infrastructure | Chief Financial Officer | Apr 2019–present | Senior finance leadership across global infrastructure portfolio |
| Siemens Building Technologies | Chief Financial Officer | 2015–Apr 2019 | Oversaw finance, productivity, and portfolio management |
| Siemens (various businesses) | Finance/Leadership roles | 1988–2015 | Progressive responsibilities in communications, industry, infrastructure |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Siemens Government Technologies, Inc. | Director | Current | U.S. subsidiary board seat; Siemens affiliation |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Member, Nominating & Corporate Governance (NCG) Committee; Member, Finance & Investment Committee; not a chair of any standing committee. The Finance & Investment Committee is chaired by Simon James Smith; NCG is chaired by Herman Bulls.
- Independence: Does not qualify as an “independent director” under Nasdaq rules; Fluence avails itself of controlled company exemptions on committee composition.
- Attendance and engagement: In FY 2024, the Board met 9 times; Compensation & HR met 10; Audit met 9; NCG met 4; Finance & Investment met 5. Each incumbent director attended at least 75% of Board and applicable committee meetings, except Emma Falck.
- Executive sessions: Non‑management directors meet regularly in executive session; independent director-only sessions at least twice per year.
| FY 2024 Meeting Counts | Board | Compensation & HR | Audit | NCG | Finance & Investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of meetings | 9 | 10 | 9 | 4 | 5 |
| Axel Meier attendance | ≥75% (company-wide disclosure for incumbents) | ≥75% (company-wide disclosure for incumbents) | N/A (not a member) | Member; ≥75% (company-wide disclosure) | Member; ≥75% (company-wide disclosure) |
Fixed Compensation
| Fiscal Year | Fees Earned (Cash) | Equity (Grant-Date Fair Value) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $0 (Siemens designees received no director compensation) | $0 (Siemens designees received no director equity) | $0 |
Notes:
- Non‑Employee Independent Director Compensation Policy (FY 2024): annual director fee $60,000; Board chair $35,000; Audit chair $15,000; Compensation chair $10,000; NCG chair $10,000; Finance & Investment chair no fee. RSU Initial/Annual Awards $170,000, vesting at 1 year; change‑in‑control acceleration. Effective 10/1/2024 (FY 2025 policy): annual director fee $90,000; Board chair $85,000; Audit chair $17,500; Compensation chair $15,000; NCG chair $12,500; RSUs $175,000; same vesting and change‑in‑control terms. These apply to non‑employee independent directors, not to Siemens/AES/QIA designees.
Performance Compensation
| Component | Structure | Performance Metrics | Status for Axel Meier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Director RSUs (Annual/Initial) | Time‑based vesting; 1‑year cliff | None disclosed for directors (time‑based, not performance‑based) | Not applicable; Siemens designees received no director equity in FY 2024 |
| Change‑in‑Control | Accelerated vesting of outstanding director equity | N/A | Not applicable absent director equity grants |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Entity | Relationship | Interlock/Controlled Company Context |
|---|---|---|
| Fluence Energy, Inc. | Siemens Related Parties designated Axel Meier to the Board under the Stockholders Agreement | Continuing Equity Owners (AES, Siemens, QIA) collectively control director elections; Siemens holds significant voting power; controlled company exemptions relied upon. |
| Siemens Government Technologies, Inc. | Board member | Reinforces Siemens affiliation and potential information flow from major shareholder. |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Financial acumen and global operational experience as CFO across Siemens’ infrastructure businesses; portfolio management and productivity expertise.
- Board skill matrix indicates C‑suite leadership, global citizenship, operational experience, financial expertise, and corporate governance competencies across director nominees, including Meier.
Equity Ownership
Beneficial ownership as of January 17, 2025 (Record Date):
| Holder | Class A Shares Beneficially Owned | % of Class A | Class B‑1 Shares Beneficially Owned | % of Class B‑1 | % Combined Voting Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Axel Meier | 0 (“—” in proxy) | <1% (“*”) | 0 (“—” in proxy) | <1% (“*”) | <1% (“*”) |
Stock Ownership Policy context:
- Non‑Employee Independent Director Stock Ownership Policy requires holdings equal to 5× annual cash retainer; applies to independent directors, with compliance/progress noted. Not directly applicable to Siemens designees.
Governance Assessment
- Positives
- Deep finance/operator background (Siemens CFO roles) beneficial to Fluence’s capital allocation and risk oversight on the Finance & Investment Committee.
- Documented attendance threshold (≥75%) met for incumbents in FY 2024, indicating engagement.
- No director fees or equity paid to Siemens designees in FY 2024, reducing direct pay conflicts.
- Risks / RED FLAGS
- Not independent; designated by Siemens under the Stockholders Agreement, with Fluence relying on controlled company exemptions—reduced minority shareholder protections on committee independence and nominations.
- No personal share ownership disclosed as of the Record Date, limiting “skin‑in‑the‑game” alignment with public investors; alignment primarily through Siemens’ corporate ownership.
- Stockholders Agreement grants significant consent and designation rights to Continuing Equity Owners (AES, Siemens, QIA), including control over director elections and certain governance actions—potential for conflicts if shareholder interests diverge.
- Mitigations
- Independent‑only executive sessions held at least twice per year help maintain independent oversight.
- Audit Committee composed entirely of independent directors, with financial literacy and audit committee financial experts, bolstering financial reporting oversight.