Robin Watson
Director at HON
Board
About Robin Watson
Robin Watson (age 57) is an independent director of Honeywell International Inc., serving since September 2022. He is the former CEO of John Wood Group PLC (2016–July 2022) and previously served as COO (2013–2016). He is a chartered mechanical engineer and a Fellow of both the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Energy Institute, bringing deep experience in energy transition technologies and large-scale engineering project delivery .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Wood Group PLC | Chief Executive Officer | Jan 2016 – Jul 2022 | Led integrated engineering/consultancy across energy and built environment; focus on sustainable technologies |
| John Wood Group PLC | Chief Operating Officer; Executive Board Member | Jan 2013 – Jan 2016 | Operational leadership of complex facilities and processes |
| Petrofac | Director and Senior Manager (various) | Prior to 2013 | Service and investment delivery roles |
| Mobil Oil (UK) | Management and Engineering | Early career | Engineering/operations grounding |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honeywell International Inc. | Independent Director; Audit Committee Member | Sep 2022 – Present | Audit Committee member (9 meetings held in 2024) |
| UK Institute of Directors (non-profit) | Non-Executive Director | Not disclosed | Governance and director development organization |
| John Wood Group PLC | Director (as CEO) | 2013–2022 | Past public company board service |
Board Governance
- Independence: Honeywell’s Board determined Watson is independent under SEC/Nasdaq standards (also meets enhanced criteria for Audit Committee membership) .
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee member; Audit Committee held 9 meetings in 2024 .
- Attendance and engagement: In 2024 the Board had 100% attendance for regularly scheduled meetings; average committee attendance was 99%, and each director participated in at least 98% of applicable meetings .
- Tenure on this board: 2 years (joined September 2022) .
- Other details: Director stock ownership guideline equals 5x annual cash retainer ($600,000); Watson is still within the five-year window to meet the guideline given his 2022 appointment .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Policy/Amount | Individual 2024 (Watson) |
|---|---|---|
| Board cash retainer | $120,000 per annum [policy] | — |
| Committee membership fees | $15,000 per annum for Audit; $10,000 other committees [policy] | — |
| Lead Director fee | $60,000 (if applicable) [policy] | — |
| Common stock equivalents (deferred) | $60,000 annually (credited to director plan) [policy] | — |
| 2024 Fees earned or paid in cash | — | $195,000 |
| All other compensation (e.g., minor benefits/match) | — | $42 |
Policy source (design of director pay): Board retainer, committee fees, stock equivalents, and benefits as described in the Elements of Compensation section .
Performance Compensation
| Equity Element | Grant Details | Vesting |
|---|---|---|
| Annual RSUs (directors) | Target value $130,000 per annum | RSUs vest on the earliest of (i) April 15 immediately preceding the first anniversary, (ii) death/disability, (iii) change in control, or (iv) voluntary termination on/after 10th Board anniversary |
| 2024 stock awards (Watson) | $130,044 (637 RSUs granted in May 2024 at $204.15 per share) | Per program terms above |
Note: Director equity is time-based RSUs (not performance-conditioned); Honeywell prohibits hedging/pledging of company stock by directors .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Category | Company | Role/Status | Interlock/Transactions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current public boards | None | — | — |
| Prior public boards | John Wood Group PLC | Director (as CEO) | Honeywell disclosed ordinary-course, arm’s-length commercial relationships with companies where certain directors served (including John Wood Group); combined purchases/sales were <1% of each company’s revenue in each of the last 3 years; Watson did not initiate/negotiatate such transactions . |
| Non-profit/other | UK Institute of Directors | Non-Executive Director | — |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Energy transition domain knowledge spanning carbon capture, hydrogen, bio-refining, minerals processing, and renewables; extensive experience in automation/digitalization of complex facilities .
- Chartered mechanical engineer; Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Energy Institute .
- Large-scale operational leadership and strategic change execution as CEO/COO of a global engineering and consultancy enterprise .
Equity Ownership
| Beneficial Ownership (as of Mar 26, 2025) | Shares |
|---|---|
| Common stock beneficially owned | 583 |
| Right to acquire within 60 days (options/RSUs) | 2,033 |
| Other stock-based holdings (deferred units/etc.) | 966 |
| Total “beneficial ownership” shares (SEC definition) | 3,582 (<1% of outstanding) |
| Outstanding awards at 12/31/2024 (reference) | Options: 2,279; Stock awards: 647; Deferred comp plan units: 695 |
Ownership alignment and guidelines:
- Director stock ownership guideline: 5x annual cash retainer ($600,000) with 5-year compliance period; as a 2022 appointee, Watson is within the compliance window .
- Prohibitions: hedging and pledging of Honeywell securities by directors are prohibited under company policy .
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent director with Audit Committee service (9 meetings in 2024) and strong board/committee attendance culture; seasoned operator with energy transition and industrial digitalization expertise aligned to Honeywell’s strategic megatrends; director equity and stock-equivalent components reinforce alignment; company prohibits hedging/pledging and enforces robust director ownership guidelines .
- Potential conflicts and mitigants: Honeywell disclosed limited commercial relationships with companies where directors served (including John Wood Group) at <1% of revenues and on arm’s-length terms; directors did not initiate/negotiate such transactions and independence was affirmed, reducing conflict risk .
- Red flags: None evident from 2025 proxy disclosures (no related-party transactions requiring action; no pledging; attendance robust). Watson is still within the 5-year window to meet the 5x ownership guideline given his 2022 start—monitor progress toward threshold as part of alignment tracking .