Raymond Link
About Raymond Link
Independent director of nLIGHT, Inc. (LASR), age 71, serving since December 2010; current term expires at the 2026 annual meeting . Chair of the Audit Committee and member of the Compensation Committee; designated Audit Committee Financial Expert under SEC rules and meets Nasdaq financial sophistication requirements . Background includes CFO roles at FEI Company (2005–2015), TriQuint Semiconductor (2001–2005 via merger with Sawtek), and prior CFO of Sawtek; licensed CPA with a BS from SUNY Buffalo and MBA from Wharton . The Board deems him independent under Nasdaq standards .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| FEI Company | Chief Financial Officer | Jul 2005 – Apr 2015 | Led finance at a scientific instruments supplier |
| TriQuint Semiconductor | Chief Financial Officer | Jul 2001 – Jun 2005 | Joined via merger with Sawtek (prior CFO at Sawtek) |
| Sawtek, Inc. | Chief Financial Officer | Pre-2001 | CFO prior to TriQuint merger |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electro Scientific Industries, Inc. | Director | Aug 2015 – Feb 2019 | Public company directorship |
| Cascade Microtech | Director | Jan 2005 – Jun 2016 | Public company directorship |
| FormFactor, Inc. | Director | Jul 2016 – Jun 2023 | Public company directorship |
Board Governance
- Committees: Audit (Chair), Compensation (Member) .
- Independence: Independent director under Nasdaq rules .
- Board leadership: CEO serves as Chair; Lead Independent Director is Bill Gossman .
- Executive sessions: Non-employee directors meet in executive session at least twice annually .
- Meetings and attendance: Board held 7 meetings in 2024; no director attended less than 75% of applicable meetings. Audit Committee held 4; Compensation Committee held 1; Information & Technology Security Committee held 5; Nominating & Governance Committee held 1 .
- Audit Committee oversight: Oversees auditor appointment, independence, financial reporting, internal controls, related-party transactions, and conflicts; Audit Committee report signed by Link as chair .
Fixed Compensation
| Component (2024) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Board annual cash retainer | $30,000 |
| Audit Committee Chair fee | $20,000 |
| Compensation Committee member fee | $1,500 |
| Total cash fees earned | $51,500 |
Notes:
- Link did not elect to receive RSUs in lieu of cash retainers in 2024 (no cash-to-RSU election value) .
Performance Compensation
| Equity Award Type | Grant Value | Grant Date Share Price | Approx. Shares | Vesting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Director RSUs (time-based) | $80,000 | $12.04/share (director grants; 2024) | ~6,644 shares | Vests on the earlier of 1-year or day prior to next annual meeting (continued service required) |
- Outside Director policy allows conversion of cash retainers to RSUs at director’s election; Link did not elect this in 2024 .
- Annual Director RSUs are time-based; no performance metrics tied to director equity grants .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Relationship | Potential Interlock/Conflict Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Electro Scientific Industries; Cascade Microtech; FormFactor | Prior public company directorships | No LASR-related party transactions disclosed involving Link in 2024–2025; Audit Committee reviews/approves any related-party transactions . |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Financial expertise: Audit Committee Financial Expert designation; CPA; CFO track record in semiconductors and instrumentation .
- Education: BS, SUNY Buffalo; MBA, Wharton .
- Governance: Long-standing director with committee leadership; meets independence standards .
Equity Ownership
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership (as of Apr 14, 2025) | 111,002 shares; less than 1% of outstanding |
| RSUs outstanding (Dec 31, 2024) | 6,644 RSUs |
| Options outstanding (Dec 31, 2024) | 6,000 options |
| Options exercisable within 60 days (as of Apr 14, 2025) | 500 options |
| Ownership guidelines | Directors must hold equity equal to 3x the annual cash board retainer by the end of the compliance period; company states all non-employee directors satisfy or have time remaining |
| Hedging/pledging | Prohibited under Insider Trading Policy |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent director; Audit Chair and Financial Expert; strong CFO background; no disclosed related-party transactions; high say-on-pay support (97% “FOR” in 2024), indicating positive shareholder sentiment on compensation governance .
- Alignment: Receives standard director cash fees plus time-based RSUs; complies with director equity ownership guidelines (company-wide compliance noted) .
- Engagement: No director fell below 75% attendance in 2024; Audit Committee active with four meetings and comprehensive oversight remit .
- Potential watchpoints: Long tenure (since 2010) can draw independence scrutiny in some governance frameworks, though Board affirms independence; director equity is time-based (no performance metrics), typical for non-employee directors .
RED FLAGS
- None disclosed specific to Link for 2024–2025 in related-party transactions, hedging/pledging, or attendance .
Additional Signals
- Compensation Committee interlocks: None in past year; no insider participation on Comp Committee .
- Board leadership and executive sessions structure support independent oversight .