Tabata Gomez
HELEN OF TROYAbout Tabata L. Gomez
Independent director at Helen of Troy (HELE) since 2022; age 44. Chief Marketing Officer at McCormick & Company, Inc. since November 2023; prior senior marketing/operator roles at Stanley Black & Decker, Coty, and Procter & Gamble across the U.S., Europe, and Latin America. Education: Bachelor of Arts in International Relations, Universidad Iberoamericana (Mexico City). The Board has determined she is independent under NASDAQ standards.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| McCormick & Company, Inc. | Chief Marketing Officer; member of Global Operating Committee | Since Nov 2023 | Leads global marketing; senior operating leadership |
| Stanley Black & Decker, Inc. | CMO, Tools & Outdoor segment; President, Global Hand Tools, Accessories & Storage Group | Since Sep 2022 (dates as disclosed) | Oversaw ~$14B brand portfolio; global P&L leadership |
| Coty, Inc. | Vice President, Rimmel | Not specifically dated | Brand leadership in beauty products |
| Procter & Gamble | 13 years in brand management, marketing, innovation (U.S., Europe, Latin America) | 13 years (dates not specified) | Multi-region consumer marketing expertise |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Start | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| McCormick & Company, Inc. | Chief Marketing Officer | Nov 2023 | Global operating committee member |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Member, Corporate Governance Committee (Governance Committee). FY25 Governance Committee held 4 meetings; Board held 4 regular and 1 other meeting in FY25.
- Attendance: Each director attended all Board and applicable committee meetings in FY25; all directors attended the 2024 virtual annual meeting.
- Independence: Board determined Gomez and all eight nominees are independent under NASDAQ standards.
- Executive sessions and oversight: Independent directors meet without management; Governance Committee oversees sustainability and succession; Committee rotation considered periodically.
Fixed Compensation
| Component | FY 2025 Amount ($) | Terms |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | 100,000 | Paid quarterly ($25,000 per quarter); no meeting fees; committee chair fees apply only to chairs (not applicable to Gomez). |
| Equity grant (director stock) | 140,000 | Granted in quarterly equal-value installments; vests on grant date; ~30% settled in cash to cover taxes. |
| Total (FY 2025) | 240,000 | No changes to non‑employee director compensation in FY25. |
Director equity fair value per-share references for FY25 grants (company-wide for directors):
| Grant Date | Grant-Date Fair Value per Share ($) |
|---|---|
| Mar 1, 2024 | 124.37 |
| Jun 3, 2024 | 106.31 |
| Sep 3, 2024 | 53.58 |
| Dec 2, 2024 | 73.79 |
Performance Compensation
- None disclosed for non-employee directors; compensation is cash retainer plus time-vested stock with immediate vesting.
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Committee Roles | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| None disclosed | — | — | Proxy lists external executive roles but no other public company directorships for Gomez. |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Global marketing leadership, brand building, and P&L management; licensed product management experience.
- Broad international experience (Latin America, Europe, Asia) informs consumer product strategy at HELE.
Equity Ownership
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Beneficially owned HELE shares | 3,158 (<1% of outstanding) |
| Shares outstanding (basis for % calc in table) | 22,944,220 (as of May 15, 2025) |
| Director stock ownership guideline | Hold HELE shares equal to ≥3x annual cash retainer; reach within 5 years; must hold until compliant; all directors compliant as of proxy date. |
| Hedging/pledging policy | Directors prohibited from hedging or pledging HELE stock; none have pledging arrangements. |
| Section 16 compliance | Company states all directors met filing requirements; no delinquency noted for Gomez. |
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness and independence: Gomez is an independent director with perfect attendance in FY25; her governance role focuses on sustainability oversight and succession planning via the Governance Committee—signals of active board engagement.
- Alignment and incentives: Director pay mix (cash + equity) and immediate vesting align with ownership guidelines; all directors in compliance—supports shareholder alignment.
- Conflicts/related-party exposure: Audit Committee reports no related-person transactions in FY25 requiring disclosure; no loans or family transactions disclosed—low conflict risk.
- Risk indicators and red flags: Prohibitions on hedging/pledging; double-trigger change-of-control provisions; limits on director compensation in proposed 2025 Stock Plan—all shareholder-friendly features.
Summary signal: Gomez brings substantial global brand and consumer marketing expertise with strong independence and attendance; no disclosed conflicts or related-party ties; ownership guidelines and trading restrictions bolster investor confidence.