John McCartney
About John McCartney
John McCartney, age 72, has served on Huron Consulting Group’s board since 2004 and was the non-executive chairman from 2009 through December 31, 2024; he remains an independent director. He holds a B.A. in Philosophy from Davidson College and an MBA from The Wharton School, and is a former Certified Public Accountant (inactive). His background includes CFO and COO roles at U.S. Robotics and business unit leadership at 3Com, bringing accounting/finance, governance, and senior leadership expertise to Huron .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huron Consulting Group Inc. | Non-Executive Chairman; Director | 2009–2024 (Chair); Director since 2004 | Led board through strategy and culture; stepped down as chair effective Jan 1, 2025 |
| 3Com (post-merger with U.S. Robotics) | President, Client Access Unit | 1997–1998 | Senior operating leadership |
| U.S. Robotics | VP & CFO; President & COO | 1984–1997 | Finance and operations leadership in a public company |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| EQT Corporation | Director; former Chairman | Since 2019 | Nominating & Corporate Governance; Environmental & Public Policy committees |
| Granite Ridge Resources, Inc. | Lead Independent Director | Since 2022 | Audit and Compensation committees |
| Datatec Limited | Director | 2007–2023 | Chair of Remuneration; Nominating committee |
| Davidson College | Board of Trustees | 1998–2008 | Chairman, 2004–2008 |
Board Governance
- Independence: McCartney is “independent” under Nasdaq standards; the board expressly reviewed his long tenure and concluded independence is not compromised .
- Committee memberships (not a chair): Audit Committee (Chair: Peter K. Markell) and Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee (Chair: Ekta Singh‑Bushell) .
- Attendance: Huron recorded 99% overall attendance across board/committee meetings in 2024; each director exceeded the 75% threshold, and all directors attended the 2024 annual meeting .
- Leadership transition: He stepped down as non‑executive board chair effective January 1, 2025, succeeded by Hugh E. Sawyer; the chair leads executive sessions .
- Board refresh/declassification: Ongoing refresh added three new directors since 2022; board is being declassified with all directors on one‑year terms by 2026 .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount/Structure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Fees Earned (Cash) | $252,500 | |
| 2024 Stock Awards (Grant-date fair value) | $169,964 | |
| 2024 Total | $422,464 | |
| Program: Annual Cash Retainers | Non-exec Chair $160,000; All non-employee directors $75,000; Committee chair fees: Audit $25,000; Compensation $20,000; N&CG $15,000; Tech $15,000; Finance $15,000; Committee membership fees: Audit $10,000; Compensation $10,000; N&CG $7,500; Tech $7,500; Finance $7,500 | |
| Deferred Compensation Plan | Participates; deferred board fees; 2024 DCP earnings $207,096; no above‑market or preferential returns |
Performance Compensation
| Item | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Equity vehicle | Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) for non‑employee directors; annual grant ~$170,000 fair value | |
| 2024 grant fair value (McCartney) | $169,964; vests ratably over 12 calendar quarters following grant | |
| Grant timing mechanism | Granted on the date of the annual meeting; priced on closing price that day | |
| Performance conditions | None disclosed for directors’ RSUs (time‑based vesting) | |
| Unvested RSUs held (12/31/2024) | 3,556 units |
Note: Performance metrics (e.g., revenue, EBITDA, TSR) apply to executive LTIPs; directors receive time‑vested RSUs only .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Sector/Overlap | Potential Interlock/Conflict |
|---|---|---|
| EQT Corporation | Energy | No Huron‑disclosed related transactions; independent status affirmed |
| Granite Ridge Resources | Energy | No Huron‑disclosed related transactions; independent status affirmed |
| Datatec Limited (former) | IT/Networking | Prior role ended 2023; no current interlock |
| Davidson College (former trustee) | Higher Education | Non‑profit governance background; no related party transaction disclosed for McCartney |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Education: B.A. (Philosophy), Davidson College; MBA, The Wharton School; CPA (inactive) .
- Board skills matrix highlights: Accounting/Finance; Corporate Governance/Law; Senior Executive Leadership; Risk Management & Oversight; Global Business; Healthcare; Higher Education; Public Company Board experience .
- Operating credentials: Former CFO/COO at a public company; prior non‑exec chair at Huron .
Equity Ownership
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership (shares) | 53,675 | |
| Shares outstanding (Record Date) | 17,921,212 | |
| Ownership as % outstanding | ~0.30% (53,675 / 17,921,212) | |
| Unvested RSUs included (≤60 days) | 608 | |
| Additional unvested RSUs excluded | 2,621 | |
| Pledging/hedging | Prohibited by insider trading policy | |
| Director stock ownership guideline | 5× annual cash retainer ($75,000) | |
| Compliance with guideline | Company states all non‑employee directors are in compliance |
Insider Trades
| Item | Disclosure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Section 16(a) delinquent filings (2024) | Late filings noted for two others; no mention of McCartney | |
| Form 4 trading activity | Not detailed in proxy; no issues disclosed for McCartney |
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness and engagement appear strong: 99% board/committee attendance, all directors attended 2024 AGM; McCartney sits on Audit and N&CG, with defined charters and active meeting cadence (Audit 8x; N&CG 4x in 2024) .
- Independence and conflicts: The board affirmed McCartney’s independence despite long tenure; no related-party transactions disclosed for him; hedging/pledging prohibited, reducing alignment risk .
- Compensation alignment: Director pay is standard cash retainer plus time‑vested RSUs; McCartney defers fees through the DCP with market returns (no preferential rates), supporting long-term alignment .
- Governance signals: Proactive board refresh and declassification; chair transition executed per succession plan; clawback policy expanded in 2025 (misconduct recovery) and compliant with Dodd‑Frank .
- Shareholder sentiment: Prior say‑on‑pay support was 98%, indicating investor confidence in pay practices and governance oversight (NEO program) .
Potential RED FLAGS (mitigants noted)
- Long tenure (since 2004) can raise independence concerns; board explicitly reviewed and maintained independence; ongoing refresh adds new perspectives .
- Office space access is disclosed; company reports no incremental cost, but it is an atypical perk for a director and warrants monitoring .