Jean-Jacques Lafont
GENUINE PARTSAbout Jean-Jacques Lafont
Jean‑Jacques Lafont, age 65, has served on the Genuine Parts Company (GPC) Board since 2020. He co‑founded Alliance Automotive Group (AAG) in 1991 and is currently its Executive Chairman, having previously served as CEO; prior to AAG, he spent six years in management roles with Hewlett‑Packard Europe. He brings 30+ years of European automotive aftermarket expertise, global sourcing and operations depth, and also serves as Non‑Executive Chairman of the Supervisory Board of BME, a leading European distributor owned by Blackstone .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance Automotive Group (AAG) | Co‑Founder (1991); CEO (prior); Executive Chairman (current) | “30 years building the business”; AAG acquired by GPC in 2017 | Co‑founded AAG in 1991; deep European aftermarket expertise |
| Hewlett‑Packard Europe | Management roles | Six years | Various management roles prior to founding AAG |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Status/Timing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| BME (Europe) | Non‑Executive Chairman, Supervisory Board | Current | Leading European building materials, sanitary and plumbing distributor; acquired by Blackstone |
Board Governance
- Independence: Not classified as an independent director under NYSE rules; the proxy identifies nine independent nominees and does not include Lafont among them .
- Committee assignments: No committee memberships in 2024 (Nominating & ESG, Compensation & Human Capital, Audit, Executive) .
- Attendance: Board held four meetings in 2024; all directors attended all Board and relevant committee meetings; all directors attended the 2024 Annual Meeting .
- Years of service: 5 years on GPC’s Board; Director since 2020 .
- Anti‑hedging/pledging: Directors are prohibited from hedging or pledging Company stock under Insider Trading Policy .
Fixed Compensation
| Component (2024) | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fees earned or paid in cash | $445,600 | Includes compensation for his role as Executive Chairman of AAG and GPC board service (per footnote) |
| Annual cash retainer (standard for non‑employee directors) | $100,000 | $25,000 per quarter; Lead Independent Director +$35,000; Committee Chairs +$25,000 each (not applicable to Lafont) |
Performance Compensation
| Equity Grant Detail (2024) | Value/Units | Key Terms |
|---|---|---|
| RSU annual grant (May 3, 2024) | $190,000; 1,207 RSUs | Fully vested right to receive one share on May 1, 2029; accelerates upon death, disability, retirement or change‑in‑control |
| Aggregate RSUs held (as of Dec 31, 2024) | 5,483 RSUs | Outstanding director RSUs by individual; Lafont total |
No performance‑based director equity (e.g., PRSUs) for non‑employee directors is disclosed; director equity is time/deferred‑settled RSUs .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Committee/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| BME (Europe) | Non‑Executive Chairman, Supervisory Board | European distributor acquired by Blackstone; governance oversight role |
No other public company board service is disclosed for Lafont in the proxy .
Expertise & Qualifications
- 30+ years in European automotive aftermarket; deep understanding of sales, operations, finance, strategic planning, and global sourcing .
- Founding/operator credentials (AAG co‑founder, CEO, Executive Chairman) aligning with GPC’s global automotive strategy .
- International experience and European distribution oversight via BME Supervisory Board chair role .
Equity Ownership
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficially owned GPC shares | 15,799 shares | As of Feb 19, 2025 |
| RSUs outstanding (director) | 5,483 units | As of Dec 31, 2024 |
| Shares outstanding (context) | 138,782,030 shares | As of Feb 19, 2025 |
| Ownership as % of shares outstanding | ~0.011% | Derived from 15,799 / 138,782,030 |
| Director ownership guideline | 5x annual cash retainer | Measured against average stock price for prior 3 years; 5‑year compliance window |
| Guideline compliance status | In compliance (as of Dec 31, 2024) | Company states all non‑employee directors comply |
| Hedging/Pledging | Prohibited | Under Insider Trading Policy |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Attendance and engagement meet Board expectations; extensive European aftermarket and sourcing expertise enhances global strategy; director equity and ownership guidelines support alignment; anti‑hedging/pledging policy reduces misalignment risk .
- Risks/RED FLAGS:
- Non‑independent status due to ongoing executive role at AAG (a GPC business), creating a structural conflict risk despite board‑level oversight policies .
- Elevated cash compensation reflects dual roles (AAG executive chair + GPC board), increasing perceived conflict and pay optics versus typical director retainer levels .
- No committee assignments in 2024; while this limits direct oversight responsibilities (e.g., audit/compensation), it can mitigate conflict exposure but reduces demonstrable committee‑level accountability .
- Related party transactions: Company reports no material related‑person transactions requiring disclosure for FY2024; Nominating & ESG Committee oversees such matters under formal policy .