Forbes I.J. Alexander
FabrinetAbout Forbes I.J. Alexander
Independent director of Fabrinet (FN), age 65, appointed June 2024; tenure ~1 year as of the October 16, 2025 record date. Former EVP and long‑time CFO of Jabil Inc. (2004–2018), with deep audit and financial reporting expertise; designated by the Board as an “audit committee financial expert.” Education: BA in Accounting, Abertay University. Prior public boards include McDermott International, Inc. (2018–2020) and Chicago Bridge & Iron Company N.V. (2017–2018) .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jabil Inc. | Chief Financial Officer; later EVP | CFO: Sep 2004–Aug 2018; EVP: Sep 2018–Jan 2020 | Led finance for global EMS company; extensive audit/reporting experience |
| McDermott International, Inc. | Director | Jun 2018–Apr 2020 | Audit Committee member |
| Chicago Bridge & Iron Company N.V. | Director | May 2017–May 2018 | Board service pre‑merger into McDermott |
| Tandy Electronics, Octocom Systems UK, Apollo Computer | Finance roles | Pre‑1993–1993/2004 (earlier career) | Early finance career in tech/hardware |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steadfast Partners LLP | Founding Partner (industrial technology advisory) | Jan 2020–Present | Advisory leadership; sector expertise |
Board Governance
- Independence: Determined independent under NYSE/SEC rules; also meets Audit Committee financial expert criteria .
- Committees: Audit Committee member; Nominating & Corporate Governance (NCGC) Committee member .
- Meeting cadence and attendance: FY2025 meetings—Board 6, Audit 4, Compensation 5, NCGC 5; incumbent directors averaged 99% attendance and all attended at least 75% of meetings .
- Executive sessions: Independent directors met in executive session at each regular Board meeting; Lead Independent Director (Dr. Levinson) presides .
- Board leadership: CEO also serves as Chair since Oct 2025; mitigated by designated Lead Independent Director and regular executive sessions .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Detail | Amount/Terms |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 Cash Fees | Fees earned/paid in cash | $99,000 |
| FY2025 Equity | RSU grant (annual director program) | $220,009 grant‑date fair value; 895 RSUs granted Dec 12, 2024 |
| FY2025 Total | Sum of cash + equity | $319,009 |
| Program Structure (non‑employee directors) | Annual cash retainers | Board: $85,000; Audit: $14,000 (member; $33,000 if chair); NCGC: $7,000 (member; $16,000 if chair) |
| Program Structure (equity) | Annual RSUs | $220,000 divided by grant‑date price; vests in full on Jan 1 following next AGM if service continues |
Performance Compensation
| Metric/Instrument | Disclosure | Terms |
|---|---|---|
| Options | None outstanding | 0 options; equity is RSUs |
| Performance‑linked equity | Not used for directors | RSUs are time‑based, automatic under the 2020 Plan; no dividends on unvested awards; no repricing permitted |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Current/Prior | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| McDermott International, Inc. | Prior | Director; Audit Committee | Jun 2018–Apr 2020 |
| Chicago Bridge & Iron Company N.V. | Prior | Director | May 2017–May 2018; merged into McDermott |
| Public company boards | Current | None | “Other Public Co. Boards: None” in director summary |
No Compensation Committee interlocks identified; Fabrinet discloses no executive serving on outside boards where reciprocal execs sit on Fabrinet’s Compensation Committee .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Audit/financial reporting expert; designated “audit committee financial expert” by the Board .
- Senior finance leadership across global manufacturing (Jabil) .
- Governance: Experience on audit committees of large engineering/industrial firms .
- Education: BA in Accounting, Abertay University .
Equity Ownership
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership (common) | 461 shares; <1% | As of Sep 30, 2025 |
| Unvested RSUs (director) | 895 shares | As of FY2025 year‑end; granted Dec 12, 2024 |
| Options | 0 | No options outstanding |
| Ownership guidelines | 4x annual Board retainer expected | Directors expected to meet within 5 years; all directors either met or are within time window as of Sep 30, 2025 |
Governance Assessment
- Committee roles and effectiveness: Service on Audit and NCGC places Alexander at the center of financial integrity, related‑party oversight, board refreshment, succession planning, and ESG oversight—aligned with his CFO background; Board also identified him as an audit financial expert, strengthening audit oversight .
- Independence, attendance, and engagement: Independent status, high overall Board/committee attendance norms (99% average), and prior AGM attendance by all directors indicate strong engagement; Fabrinet maintains executive sessions and a Lead Independent Director, which mitigates CEO‑Chair combination risk .
- Compensation mix and alignment: Director pay balanced between cash fees and time‑based RSUs with a standardized, non‑discretionary annual grant; prohibitions on hedging/pledging and ownership guidelines (4x retainer) support skin‑in‑the‑game and alignment .
- Potential conflicts/related parties: No related‑party transactions disclosed involving Alexander; Audit Committee oversees related‑party approvals; only disclosed related party pertains to founder’s family member employment, not Alexander .
- Red flags: None identified specific to Alexander. Structural risk of combined CEO/Chair is mitigated via Lead Independent Director and robust executive sessions; no hedging/pledging permitted; no option repricing under the plan .
Signals for investors: Alexander’s audit expertise and dual committee roles (Audit, NCGC) bolster board effectiveness in financial oversight and governance refresh; compensation/ownership policies emphasize alignment and risk controls (clawbacks, no hedging/pledging, majority voting resignation policy) .