Paula A. Price
Mondelez InternationalAbout Paula A. Price
Paula A. Price, 63, is an independent director of Mondelēz International (MDLZ) serving since May 2024. A certified public accountant, she was EVP & CFO at Macy’s (2018–2020) and a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School (2014–2018); earlier she was EVP & CFO of Ahold USA (2009–2014) and held senior roles at CVS Caremark, JPMorgan Chase, Diageo, and Kraft Foods . She is deemed independent by the Board and sits on the Audit and Finance Committees; she is also designated an “audit committee financial expert” .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Macy’s, Inc. | EVP & Chief Financial Officer | 2018–2020 | Led finance; senior executive oversight |
| Harvard Business School | Senior Lecturer (Accounting & Management) | 2014–2018 | Academic teaching/research |
| Ahold USA | EVP & Chief Financial Officer | 2009–2014 | Led finance, strategic planning, IT; real estate development |
| CVS Caremark; JPMorgan Chase; Diageo; Kraft Foods | Senior management roles | Various | Finance and operations leadership |
| Arthur Andersen & Co. | CPA (career start) | — | Audit/accounting foundation |
External Roles
| Company | Role | Current/Prior | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accenture plc | Director | Current | Public company board service |
| Bristol Myers Squibb | Director | Current | Public company board service |
| Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc. | Director | Current | Public company board service |
| DaVita Inc. | Director | Prior | Former public board |
| Dollar General Corporation | Director | Prior | Former public board |
| Western Digital Corporation | Director | Prior | Former public board |
Board Governance
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Independence | Board determined Paula A. Price is independent (NASDAQ standards) |
| MDLZ Committees | Audit; Finance |
| Audit Committee Financial Expert | Yes (Board determination) |
| Board/Committee Meetings | Board held 8 meetings in 2024; each director attended ≥85% of combined Board/committee meetings; committees met Audit 9, Finance 3, Governance 6, PCC 7 |
| Executive Sessions | Independent directors meet in executive session at each in‑person Board meeting |
| Years of Service (MDLZ) | Director since May 2024 |
| Other Board Service Limits | Policy: ≤3 other public boards in addition to MDLZ (≤2 if CEO elsewhere); within limits |
Fixed Compensation
| Element | MDLZ Program Terms (2024) | Paula A. Price – 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $115,000 | $70,137 (prorated from May 22, 2024) |
| Committee chair retainers | Audit $35,000; PCC $25,000; Governance $20,000; Finance $20,000 | N/A (member, not chair) |
| Lead director retainer | $50,000 | N/A |
| Meeting fees | None (not paid) | — |
| Company match (charitable) | Up to $15,000 per year | $15,000 |
Performance Compensation
Non‑employee directors receive annual equity grants in the form of fully‑vested deferred stock units (DSUs); there are no performance‑based equity metrics for directors. DSUs settle in shares six months after end of Board service and accrue dividend equivalents until settlement .
| Equity Element | MDLZ Program Terms (2024) | Paula A. Price – 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Annual equity retainer | $200,000 value in DSUs | $200,057 grant date fair value; 2,849 DSUs granted in 2024 |
| Vesting/Settlement | Vested at grant; shares delivered 6 months post‑service; dividends accrue | As program terms |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Topic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current public boards | Accenture plc; Bristol Myers Squibb; Warner Bros. Discovery |
| Prior public boards | DaVita; Dollar General; Western Digital |
| Interlocks / related‑party | Company discloses related‑party transactions review; 2024 disclosure notes fees to BlackRock related to plan assets; no director‑related transactions disclosed |
Expertise & Qualifications
- CPA; deep accounting/finance expertise from CFO roles at Macy’s and Ahold; designated Audit Committee financial expert .
- Extensive consumer, retail, and food industry experience; oversight of strategic planning, IT, and real estate development .
- Public company governance experience across multiple large‑cap boards .
Equity Ownership
| Ownership Item | Amount/Status |
|---|---|
| Beneficially owned MDLZ common stock | 0 shares; DSUs only listed |
| DSUs (beneficial ownership) | 2,911 DSUs (includes accrued dividends) |
| Outstanding director equity awards | 2,849 DSUs granted in 2024; 2,887 outstanding units at 12/31/2024 (reflects accruals) |
| Pledged shares | None; company reports no pledging by named individuals in table |
| Ownership guidelines | Directors must hold 5× annual cash retainer within 5 years; DSUs count; shares settle 6 months post‑service |
| Anti‑hedging/pledging policy | Directors prohibited from hedging, short‑selling, and pledging MDLZ securities |
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: Price’s CFO background, CPA credential, and Audit Committee financial expert designation strengthen oversight of financial reporting, controls, and risk—aligned with her Audit and Finance Committee assignments .
- Independence and attendance: Independent; Board reports strong attendance (≥85%) and regular independent executive sessions, supporting robust governance culture .
- Alignment and incentives: Director pay mix emphasizes equity DSUs with deferred settlement, plus stock ownership guidelines, promoting long‑term alignment; anti‑hedging/anti‑pledging policies reduce misalignment risk .
- Other boards: Multiple current directorships (Accenture, BMS, WBD) are within MDLZ’s limit on outside boards, mitigating overboarding concerns; Governance Committee annually reviews independence and interlocks .
- Conflicts/related parties: No related‑party transactions disclosed involving Price; company operates formal review processes via the Governance Committee .
RED FLAGS: None disclosed specific to Price. No attendance shortfalls reported, no pledging/hedging, and no related‑party transactions cited in 2024 disclosures .