Sophie Zurquiyah
TechnipFMCAbout Sophie Zurquiyah
Sophie Zurquiyah, 58, is an independent director of TechnipFMC (FTI) since 2021 and serves on the Audit Committee; all Audit members are designated “audit committee financial experts.” She is CEO of Viridien S.A. (formerly CGG) since April 2018, with prior senior roles at Schlumberger including CIO (2007–2009), President, Data & Consulting Services (2009–2012), and VP Technology Sustaining (2012–2013). She holds degrees from École Centrale de Paris, MSc in Numerical Analysis (Paris VI), and an MSc in Aerospace Engineering (University of Colorado). Board tenure ~4 years; age, independence and committee assignment confirmed.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viridien S.A. (CGG) | Chief Executive Officer | Apr 2018–present | Led advanced technology/digital/earth data strategy; financial, technology, sustainability, and drilling expertise cited |
| Viridien S.A. (CGG) | Senior Executive Vice President, Geology, Geophysics & Reservoir | Pre-2018 (dates not specified) | Segment leadership; strategic sustainability/technology contributions |
| Schlumberger Limited | Chief Information Officer | 2007–2009 | Digital transformation leadership |
| Schlumberger Limited | President, Data & Consulting Services | 2009–2012 | Grew data/consulting businesses |
| Schlumberger Limited | VP, Technology Sustaining | Aug 2012–Jan 2013 | Technology stewardship |
External Roles
| Company | Role | Tenure | Committee Positions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viridien S.A. | CEO; Chair of the Board (current) | 2018–present | Not disclosed in FTI proxy |
| Safran S.A. | Director (former) | 2017–recent past (former within last 5 years) | Not disclosed in FTI proxy |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee member; Audit met 4 times in 2024; all Audit members designated “audit committee financial experts.”
- Independence: Board affirmed all non-executive directors (incl. Zurquiyah) are independent under NYSE rules; enhanced independence criteria met for Audit members.
- Attendance: 100% Board and committee meeting attendance by all 2025 nominees (incl. Zurquiyah) in 2024; attended the 2024 AGM.
- Leadership/structure context: Robust Lead Independent Director role, fully independent board committees, regular executive sessions.
Fixed Compensation
| Element | 2024 Company Policy | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $105,000 | Increased $5,000 effective Jan 1, 2024 |
| Committee chair fee | Audit $25,000; C&T $20,000; ESG $15,000 | Applies to chairs; Zurquiyah is not a chair |
| Committee meeting fee | $2,500 per committee meeting | Audit held 4 meetings in 2024 |
| Other benefits | Travel expense reimbursement | Standard for directors |
| Director (2024) | Fees Earned ($) | Stock Awards ($) | All Other Comp ($) | Total ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sophie Zurquiyah | 115,000 | 185,000 | 2,433 (spousal travel) | 302,433 |
Performance Compensation
| Equity | Grant Value | Vesting | Settlement/Elections | Outstanding/Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual RSUs | $185,000 (2024 grant) | Vests after 1 year of service | Settled in Ordinary Shares at director’s elected date: 1–10 years post-grant or upon separation; elections set prior to year and irrevocable after Dec 31 preceding grant | Zurquiyah outstanding RSUs: 66,009 total; 56,628 vested but not settled as of 12/31/2024 |
- Directors do not receive options or PSUs; compensation is not performance-conditioned; RSUs are time-based only.
Other Directorships & Interlocks
- Current: Viridien S.A. CEO (and Board Chair); Former: Safran S.A. director.
- Related-party transactions: ESG Committee reports no related-person transactions >$120,000 since the beginning of 2024; directors must disclose conflicts and recuse as appropriate.
- Historical overboarding flag (2021): Glass Lewis initially recommended against her nomination due to service on three public boards (CGG/Viridien, Safran, TechnipFMC); the company indicated action would be taken to address guidelines, and FTI’s 2025 proxy shows Safran directorship is former.
Expertise & Qualifications
- Skills: Financial, technology, sustainability, oil & gas drilling expertise; executive/board experience across international operations; diversity of geographic origin and experience.
- Audit competency: Serves on FTI’s Audit Committee; Audit members designated financial experts.
- Education: École Centrale de Paris; MSc in Numerical Analysis (Paris VI); MSc in Aerospace Engineering (University of Colorado).
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Beneficial Ownership (Shares) | % of Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sophie Zurquiyah | 66,009 | <1% (of 420,571,563 outstanding) | Includes vested deferred RSUs; directors have no voting/disposition rights over RSUs until distribution |
| Stock Ownership Guidelines | Requirement | Covered Interests | Time to Achieve | Compliance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non-executive directors | 5x annual cash retainer | Ordinary Shares and RSUs with beneficial interest | Five years from initial appointment | All directors met requirements as of 12/31/2024 |
- Hedging/pledging: Company policy prohibits directors from hedging or pledging Company securities, short selling, or derivative speculation.
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent director with deep sector/technology expertise; Audit Committee financial oversight; 100% attendance (Board/committee); strong ownership alignment (5x retainer guideline met); prohibition on hedging/pledging; no related-party transactions disclosed; robust board governance (independent committees, executive sessions).
- Potential risks: External CEO role at Viridien increases time-commitment demands; historical overboarding concern noted by Glass Lewis in 2021 appears mitigated (Safran board now “former”). Continued monitoring of external commitments and any commercial ties between Viridien and FTI warranted, though none disclosed.
- Shareholder sentiment: Say‑on‑pay support indicates broader governance acceptance—86% (2024 AGM) and 96.5% (2023 AGM).
Director Compensation Structure Analysis (Y/Y)
- 2024 adjustments: Board increased non‑executive director cash retainer by $5,000 and annual equity grant by $10,000 effective Jan 1, 2024 to align with peer median (Zurquiyah’s 2024 totals reflect the new levels).
Insider Trades
- Beneficial ownership per proxy disclosed above; no additional Form 4 transactions are referenced here.