Robert Singer
Keurig Dr PepperAbout Robert Singer
Robert “Bob” Singer (age 73) is an independent director of Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) since 2018 (7 years of service). He is the former CEO of Barilla Holding S.p.A., with prior senior roles as CFO of Gucci Group N.V. and President & COO of Abercrombie & Fitch. He chairs KDP’s Audit & Finance Committee and has been designated an “audit committee financial expert,” reflecting deep operating and financial governance expertise .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure/Dates | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barilla Holding S.p.A. | Chief Executive Officer | Not disclosed | Former CEO; extensive operating and executive experience |
| Abercrombie & Fitch Co. | President & Chief Operating Officer | Not disclosed | Senior operating leadership |
| Gucci Group N.V. | Chief Financial Officer | Not disclosed | Senior finance leadership |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coty Inc. | Director | Current public co. directorship | Listed as Singer’s current public board in KDP proxy |
| Panera Brands | Director | Current | Panera Brands includes Caribou and Einstein Bros; see interlocks below |
| Swarovski International Holding | Director | Current | Current board role |
| Tiffany & Co.; Gianni Versace S.p.A.; Jimmy Choo PLC; Mead Johnson Nutrition; Bally International | Director (former) | Prior | Prior board service as disclosed |
Board Governance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Independence | Board determined Singer is independent under Nasdaq rules |
| Committee assignments | Audit & Finance Committee Chair; members are all independent; meets financial literacy and Rule 10A‑3 independence |
| Audit committee financial expert | Board determined all Audit Committee members (including Singer) are “audit committee financial experts” |
| Meetings/attendance | Board met 10 times in 2024; all current directors met ≥75% attendance except Paul Michaels (health reasons). Singer’s attendance met policy threshold |
| Audit & Finance Committee activity | 8 meetings in 2024; oversight of financial reporting, internal controls, auditor independence/performance, compliance, cybersecurity risk |
| Lead independent director | Pamela Patsley (effective Dec 2024) |
Fixed Compensation
| Component (Directors) | 2024 Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Board retainer (cash) | $110,000 | Applies to non-employee directors |
| Audit & Finance Committee Chair retainer | $40,000 | Committee chair fee |
| Lead Director retainer | $40,000 | If applicable |
| Annual equity award (RSUs) | $175,000 | Granted annually to directors |
| Stock ownership guideline | 5x annual cash board retainer | Required for directors |
Director-specific 2024 compensation (Singer):
| Name | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | Stock Awards ($) | All Other Comp ($) | Total ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Singer | 148,750 | 151,733 | — | 300,483 |
Notes: Director equity awards typically vest in full on the fifth anniversary; if service terminates, awards generally vest in full (grants within one year vest pro rata) .
Performance Compensation
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Equity form | RSUs (director) |
| 2024 grant value (program) | $175,000 (standard annual award for directors) |
| 2024 grant to Singer (fair value) | $151,733 (ASC 718 fair value) |
| RSUs outstanding (12/31/2024) | 27,300 RSUs for Singer |
| Vesting | Director annual equity vests in full at 5 years; termination generally accelerates vesting (pro rata if grant <1 year old) |
| Hedging/pledging | Hedging prohibited; pledging requires pre‑clearance and speculative pledging prohibited |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Potential Interlock | Relevance to KDP | KDP Disclosure/Independence Consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Panera Brands (Singer is director) vs. KDP arrangements with Caribou and Einstein Bros (part of Panera Brands) | KDP licenses Caribou; sells syrups/packaged beverages to Caribou and Einstein Bros | Related person transactions section frames these as “JAB-related” commercial arrangements; Board nonetheless determined Singer is independent; no Singer-specific related-party finding disclosed |
| Other current public directorship (Coty Inc.) | No disclosed transactions with KDP | Board reviewed relevant relationships since 2022; no independence issue disclosed for Singer |
KDP additionally noted ordinary-course business with Brown‑Forman (Whiting), with amounts under 1% of either party’s revenue; Whiting remained independent—illustrating Board’s approach to assessing immaterial relationships .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Former CEO (Barilla), CFO (Gucci), President & COO (Abercrombie & Fitch)
- Audit committee financial expert; significant public company board and audit chair experience
- Education: BA (Johns Hopkins), master’s (UC Irvine), master’s in Accounting (NYU)
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | % of Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Singer | 55,102 | <1% | Includes 12,499 shares held by the Robert Singer 2005 Insurance Trust |
| RSUs Outstanding (not included in beneficial ownership unless vesting within 60 days) | 27,300 RSUs | — | Director awards vest on 5-year cycle |
| Director ownership policy | 5x annual cash board retainer required | — | Applies to all non‑employee directors |
Insider trades (Form 4): Not disclosed in the proxy; refer to Section 16 filings for transaction history. KDP’s insider trading policy prohibits hedging and restricts pledging (pre‑clearance required; speculative pledging prohibited) .
Governance Assessment
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Strengths
- Independent director with deep finance and operating credentials; designated audit committee financial expert .
- Audit & Finance Committee chaired by Singer; all members independent; 8 meetings in 2024 with robust remit over financial reporting, internal controls, auditors, compliance, and cybersecurity .
- Attendance met ≥75% requirement; Board met 10 times in 2024 .
- Director compensation mix emphasizes long-term equity with 5-year vesting and ownership guideline of 5x retainer—alignment with shareholders .
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Potential watch items
- Interlock sensitivity: Singer sits on Panera Brands’ board while KDP maintains commercial arrangements with Caribou and Einstein Bros (within Panera Brands). KDP classifies these as JAB-related transactions; no Singer-specific related-party conflict disclosed, and Singer is deemed independent. Continue to monitor for any changes in scope/materiality of these arrangements .
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Broader governance signal
- KDP pay/governance program saw 85% say‑on‑pay support in 2024 (82% in 2023; 94% in 2022), indicating constructive shareholder sentiment toward compensation governance; in 2025, KDP added PSUs to increase performance linkage (executive program) .
No red flags identified regarding Singer’s attendance, independence, hedging/pledging, or director pay practices in the latest proxy. The principal area to monitor is the continuing network of JAB-related commercial arrangements overlapping with entities where directors (notably Singer at Panera Brands) have roles; the Board’s independence determinations and related‑party policy process are active and disclosed .