Paris Watts-Stanfield
IDEX CORP /DE/About Paris Watts‑Stanfield
Paris Watts‑Stanfield, age 60, is an independent Class II director of IDEX Corporation (IEX) with current term expiring in 2027 and approximately 3.1 years of board tenure. She is designated an Audit Committee Financial Expert and brings deep finance, audit, and international operating experience from senior roles at Alcon, Medtronic, Alcoa, Walmart, and Procter & Gamble. She holds a B.S. in Mathematics from SUNY Brockport and an MBA from the University of Rochester .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcon, Inc. | Chief Procurement Officer | After Mar 2024–present (serves as CPO after prior CFO role) | Global procurement leadership; supplier strategy |
| Alcon, Inc. | Chief Financial Officer, International | Apr 2022–Mar 2024 | Led international finance; global leadership |
| Medtronic, Inc. | VP & CFO, Greater China | Jun 2021–Apr 2022 | Regional finance leadership |
| Medtronic, Inc. | Vice President & Chief Audit Executive | Jul 2017–Jun 2021 | Enterprise audit; controls and risk oversight |
| Alcoa, Inc. | CFO, Transportation & Construction Solutions Group | 2015–2017 | Segment CFO; capital allocation |
| Alcoa, Inc. | VP & Chief Audit Executive | 2012–2015 | Internal audit leadership |
| Walmart Stores, Inc. | VP, Finance & Strategy | 2010–2012 | Strategy and financial planning |
| Walmart Stores, Inc. | VP, Internal Audit – International | 2009–2010 | Global internal audit |
| Procter & Gamble | Finance roles | Earlier career | Foundational finance experience |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Public Company Board? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alcon, Inc. | Chief Procurement Officer | No (executive role) | Current executive position |
| — | — | None disclosed | No other public company directorships disclosed in proxy |
Board Governance
- Independence: Board affirmatively determined Watts‑Stanfield is independent under NYSE standards; all standing committees are fully independent .
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee member; designated “Audit Committee Financial Expert” alongside Helmkamp and Buthman .
- Attendance and engagement: Board held 8 meetings in 2024; all directors attended >75% of applicable Board and committee meetings and attended the 2024 Annual Meeting; non‑management executive sessions occurred at every regularly scheduled meeting .
- Audit Committee activity: 8 meetings in 2024; oversees financial reporting, internal audit, compliance, cybersecurity, and administers Related Person Transactions Policy; no related person transactions required disclosure since Jan 1, 2024 .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | 2024 Amount | Terms |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $95,000 | Increased by $5,000 for 2024 to align with market |
| Committee chair fees | $20,000 Audit; $15,000 Comp; $15,000 NCGC | Applies to chairs only; no meeting fees disclosed |
| Annual equity grant (RSUs) | $165,000 | Increased by $10,000 for 2024; 100% RSUs |
| Non‑Executive Chair add’l fees (for reference) | $100,000 cash; $50,000 equity | Not applicable to Watts‑Stanfield |
2024 director compensation earned by Watts‑Stanfield:
| Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | Stock Awards ($) | All Other Compensation ($) | Total ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paris Watts‑Stanfield | 95,000 | 165,000 | — | 260,000 |
Performance Compensation
- Structure: Director equity is 100% RSUs; no performance metrics (e.g., EBITDA/TSR) tied to director compensation; vesting is time‑based with specified acceleration triggers .
- Vesting terms: Annual RSUs vest on the earlier of the first anniversary or next annual meeting (≥50 weeks after prior meeting), or upon six years of continuous board service, death/disability, failure to be re‑elected, or change in control; initial election grants vest at first anniversary, death/disability, or change in control; deferral of equity settlement permitted .
Representative RSU grants outstanding/vested for Watts‑Stanfield:
| Grant Date | RSUs (#) | Vesting Date/Status |
|---|---|---|
| May 6, 2022 | 825 | Vests May 6, 2025 (eligible for dividends; some directors deferred settlement) |
| May 25, 2023 | 770 | Vests May 25, 2026 (eligible for dividends) |
| May 7, 2024 | 745 | Vests May 7, 2025 (eligible for dividends) |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
- Current public company boards: None disclosed beyond IEX .
- Interlocks/conflicts: Board reviewed commercial relationships with organizations affiliated with directors; transactions were ordinary course, arm’s‑length, and did not affect independence; no related person transactions requiring disclosure since Jan 1, 2024 .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Audit/finance leadership across global enterprises; designated Audit Committee Financial Expert .
- International operating experience (Alcon, Medtronic, Alcoa, Walmart) including procurement, audit, and CFO roles .
- Education: B.S. Mathematics (SUNY Brockport); MBA (University of Rochester) .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | % of Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| L. Paris Watts‑Stanfield | 2,495 | * | Includes RSUs outstanding/vested and any deferred settlement as applicable; dividends eligible on RSUs |
Ownership alignment safeguards:
- Director stock ownership guideline: 5x current annual Board service retainer; directors restricted from selling until guideline met; as of record date, all non‑management directors were in compliance or subject to mandatory holding until compliance .
- Prohibitions: Company insider trading policy prohibits hedging and pledging of Company stock by directors and employees .
- Deferred compensation: Directors may defer cash fees and equity under the Directors Deferred Compensation Plan; accounts earn hypothetical returns per policy and are unsecured .
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent director with audit financial expertise; active committee service; robust attendance; no related‑party transactions; strict anti‑hedging/pledging and clawback frameworks; strong stock ownership guidelines enhance alignment .
- Compensation alignment: Director pay mix balances cash retainer and time‑vested RSUs; 2024 program modestly increased cash and equity to median market levels; no meeting fees or performance gaming risk for directors .
- Potential watch items: Significant external operating responsibilities (Alcon CPO) may present time‑commitment considerations; Board evaluates director time commitments annually as part of refreshment and composition reviews . No disclosed conflicts or related‑party transactions involving Watts‑Stanfield .
RED FLAGS: None disclosed regarding related‑party exposure, hedging/pledging, low attendance, or director pay anomalies for Watts‑Stanfield in 2024 .