Mary Beckerle
JOHNSON & JOHNSONAbout Mary C. Beckerle
Mary C. Beckerle, Ph.D., age 70, has been an independent director of Johnson & Johnson since 2015. She is CEO of the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, Associate Vice President for Cancer Affairs, and a Distinguished Professor; she holds a B.A. from Wells College and a Ph.D. from the University of Colorado Boulder, with postdoctoral work at UNC Chapel Hill . At JNJ, she serves as Chair of the Science & Technology Committee and as a member of the Regulatory Compliance & Sustainability Committee .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsman Cancer Institute (Univ. of Utah) | Chief Executive Officer; Associate VP for Cancer Affairs; Distinguished Professor; Jon M. Huntsman Presidential Endowed Chair | CEO since 2006; Univ. faculty since 1986 | Leadership of NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center; oversight of research, clinical operations, compliance |
| NIH | Advisory Committee to the Director (member) | 2007–2010 | National-level oversight of biomedical policy |
| NCI | Board of Scientific Advisors (member) | 2018–2022 | External scientific oversight and strategy |
| American Society for Cell Biology | President | 2006–2007 | Scientific community leadership |
| American Cancer Society | Chair, Council for Extramural Grants | 2010–2012 | Grants governance and allocation |
| Howard Hughes Medical Institute | Medical Advisory Board (member) | Since 2015 | Scientific advisory governance |
External Roles
| Company/Institution | Role | Tenure | Committees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsman Corporation (NYSE: HUN) | Independent Director | Since 2011 | Nominating & Corporate Governance; Sustainability (current) |
| Exelixis (NASDAQ: EXEL) | Independent Director | Since Jan 2024 | Governance; Research & Development; Risk (2025 update) |
| University of Utah | Employee (Professor) | Since 1986 | N/A (employment context) |
Board Governance
- Independence: JNJ determined all non-employee directors, including Dr. Beckerle, were independent under NYSE and JNJ standards for fiscal 2024 .
- Committee assignments: Chair, Science & Technology; Member, Regulatory Compliance & Sustainability .
- Committee meeting cadence (2024): Audit 13; Compensation & Benefits 8; Nominating & Corporate Governance 4; Regulatory Compliance & Sustainability 4; Science & Technology 5 .
- Attendance: The Board held 14 meetings in 2024; each director attended at least 75% of Board and relevant committee meetings, and all nominees attended the 2024 annual meeting .
- Lead Independent Director: Marillyn A. Hewson (not Dr. Beckerle); duties detailed include agendas, executive sessions, and CEO evaluation .
Fixed Compensation
| Element | 2024 Amount | 2025 Program (approved Sept 10, 2024) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer (non-employee directors) | $125,000 | $125,000 | Paid in cash; optional deferral to DSUs |
| Committee Chair retainer (non-Audit) | $25,000 | $25,000 | Dr. Beckerle receives as S&T Chair |
| Audit Chair retainer | $30,000 | $30,000 | N/A to Dr. Beckerle |
| Lead Director retainer | $50,000 | $50,000 | N/A to Dr. Beckerle |
| Expense reimbursement | As incurred | As incurred | Travel, lodging, education programs |
- 2024 total director compensation (Dr. Beckerle): Fees earned $150,000; Stock awards (DSUs) $205,000; All other (matching gifts) $25,000; Total $380,000 .
Performance Compensation
| Equity Instrument | Grant Value | Vesting/Settlement | Performance Metrics | Dividend Equivalents |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deferred Share Units (DSUs) | $205,000 (2024 grant) | Immediately vested; mandatory deferral until termination of Board membership; settled in cash | None (time-based; directors do not receive PSUs/options at JNJ) | DSUs accrue dividend equivalents mirroring common dividends |
- Elective fee deferrals: Directors may defer cash retainers into DSUs until termination; Dr. Beckerle did not elect deferral in 2024 (Hewson and Woods did) .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Relationship | Nature | 2024 Magnitude | Governance Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI), University of Utah | JNJ payments for clinical research/investigator payments to HCI where Dr. Beckerle is CEO | Approx. $1.3 million; below independence thresholds; listed as <1% in table | Reviewed under Related Person policy; independence maintained |
| University of Utah | JNJ sales, grants, investigator payments | Each <1%; some <$1m | Reviewed; independence maintained |
| Broader relationships (e.g., HHMI, NCI) | Advisory/charitable/sponsored interactions | Various <1% entries | Below thresholds; independence maintained |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Scientific and organizational leadership in healthcare; active in national/international scientific affairs; elected member of NAS/APS/AAAS .
- Brings deep R&D oversight; supports pipeline and M&A evaluation on S&T Committee .
- Education: B.A. Wells College; Ph.D. University of Colorado Boulder; postdoc UNC Chapel Hill .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Common Shares | Deferred Share Units | Options/Units | Total Beneficial |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mary C. Beckerle | 0 | 13,975 | 0 | 13,975 |
- Stock Ownership Guidelines: 5x annual cash retainer; DSUs count towards compliance; derivatives/hedging prohibited; Dr. Beckerle is in compliance and has met the threshold .
- Anti-pledging/hedging: JNJ prohibits pledging, hedging, and short selling by directors .
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: As S&T Chair, Beckerle strengthens scientific rigor, pipeline oversight, and technology diligence—critical to Innovative Medicine/MedTech strategy; Committee held 5 meetings in 2024, indicating active oversight .
- Independence & conflicts: Related-person review disclosed JNJ’s payments to HCI and University of Utah where Beckerle holds senior roles; amounts were below material thresholds, reviewed/approved under policy, and independence affirmed—mitigating conflict risk though ongoing monitoring remains prudent .
- Engagement/attendance: Board met 14 times; all directors met minimum attendance; Beckerle participates across ST and RCS committees—consistent with strong engagement .
- Compensation alignment: Director pay is modest/fixed (cash + DSUs); equity delivered via mandatory deferred DSUs aligns interests without short-term performance gaming; no options or performance equity—reduces risk of misaligned incentives .
- Ownership alignment: 13,975 DSUs; compliant with 5x retainer guideline; prohibited hedging/pledging—supports long-term alignment and investor confidence .
- Additional signals: JNJ’s 2024 Say-on-Pay approval at ~90% reflects broader investor endorsement of governance/compensation practices, indirectly supportive of overall board credibility .
RED FLAGS: None material disclosed for Beckerle. Monitor ongoing related-person transactions with HCI/University of Utah for scale changes; ensure continued recusal where appropriate .