Alexander Schuetz
About Alexander Schuetz
Alexander Schuetz (58) is an independent director of Helios Technologies (HLIO), serving since June 2014. He is CEO of Knauf Engineering GmbH and brings deep global hydraulics and fluid power expertise, with prior leadership roles at Bosch Rexroth/Mannesmann across Latin America and Asia; he holds a Ph.D. in international commercial law (University of Münster) and completed Robert Bosch North America’s International General Management Program at Carnegie Mellon University .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knauf Engineering GmbH | Chief Executive Officer | Since Feb 2009 | Oversees portfolio of multinational projects totaling $500M |
| Bosch Rexroth (Mexico & Central America) | CEO | Aug 2000 – Aug 2007 | Led regional operations in fluid power; global customer/market insights |
| Mannesmann (China) Ltd. | Head of Finance, Tax & Legal | 1998 – 2000 | Holding company oversight for Rexroth, Demag, Sachs, VDO in China |
External Roles
| Type | Organization | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private company | Knauf Engineering GmbH | CEO | Engineering company in gypsum-based construction materials |
| Public company boards | — | — | No other public company directorships disclosed in proxy |
Board Governance
- Independence: Board determined Schuetz is independent under NYSE and SEC rules .
- Committees: Chair, Nominating; Member, Compensation; Member, ESG .
- Attendance: Board held 4 meetings and 12 special meetings in 2024; all independent directors attended all Board and committee meetings they served on .
- Executive sessions: Independent directors meet in regular executive sessions; chair is a non-management director .
- Proxy committee: Serves as one of two designated proxy holders (with Cary Chenanda) for the 2025 Annual Meeting .
| Committee | Role | 2024 Meetings | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominating | Chair | 4 | Oversees director qualifications, succession, and nominations |
| Compensation | Member | 4 | Oversees executive pay; none of the members are employees; engaged Mercer consultant |
| ESG | Member | 4 | Oversees governance guidelines, enterprise risk, and board evaluations |
Fixed Compensation (Director)
| Component | Amount | Detail / Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer (2024 policy) | $88,750 | $22,187.50 per regular quarterly meeting |
| 2024 cash fees actually paid | $88,750 | As disclosed in 2024 director compensation table |
Performance Compensation (Director)
Directors receive equity via time-based RSUs; no performance metrics (e.g., EBITDA, TSR) apply to director grants.
| Equity Component | Target Policy (2024) | Schuetz 2024 Reported | Vesting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarterly RSU (director) | $38,750 target per quarter | $163,877 total grant-date fair value | One-year vest per grant |
| Additional RSU (Chair of Nominating) | $2,500 target per quarter | Included in above | One-year vest |
| Unvested RSUs (as of 12/28/2024) | — | 3,453 units | One-year vest schedule per grant dates |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Industry Relationship to HLIO | Role | Conflict Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| None disclosed | — | — | No public interlocks or related overlaps disclosed |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Global hydraulics/fluid power operations and customer market insight across Asia and Latin America .
- Finance, business development, M&A, project management; prior CEO roles in industrial segments .
- Education: Ph.D., international commercial law (University of Münster); executive general management program at Carnegie Mellon .
Equity Ownership
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership (common shares) | 15,387 shares (as of 4/9/2025) |
| % of shares outstanding | Not individually disclosed (asterisk indicates <1% for directors) |
| Unvested director RSUs | 3,453 units (as of 12/28/2024) |
| Ownership guidelines (directors) | Hold shares equal to 2x annual director share awards |
| Hedging/Pledging | Prohibited for directors and executives |
Governance Assessment
- Committee leadership and breadth: As Nominating Chair and member of Compensation/ESG, Schuetz is central to board composition, pay oversight, and risk governance—positive for board effectiveness .
- Independence and attendance: Fully independent with full attendance across Board/committee meetings, supporting engagement and accountability .
- Compensation alignment: Director pay mix is cash plus time-based RSUs with additional chair RSUs; stock ownership guidelines apply—alignment with shareholders without performance-linked director metrics, consistent with market norms .
- Conflicts/related-party transactions: No reportable transactions in 2024 involving directors or their affiliates, reducing conflict risk .
- Risk controls: Company maintains anti-hedging/pledging policies and rigorous code of ethics; ESG/enterprise risk oversight formalized at committee level .
- Shareholder feedback signals: 2024 say-on-pay support at ~63% prompted enhanced disclosure and addition of TSR to LTI (executives), reflecting responsiveness by Compensation Committee where Schuetz serves—supportive of governance quality .
RED FLAGS: None disclosed specific to Schuetz. No attendance issues, no related-party exposure, and compliance with independence standards .
Note: HLIO underwent CEO transition/termination for cause in 2024; while not related to Schuetz personally, board oversight and responsive governance (search process, policy enforcement) were detailed, which can positively affect investor confidence in board accountability .