Alan C. Wallace
MERCER INTERNATIONALAbout Alan C. Wallace
Alan C. Wallace, age 65, is an independent director of Mercer International Inc. (MERC) who has served on the board since June 2018. He is Chief Executive Officer of Peloton Advisors Inc. and previously served as Vice Chairman, Investment Banking at CIBC World Markets Inc., including Co-Head of its Paper & Forest Products Group (1995–2013). He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and a Bachelor of Applied Science (Mechanical) from the University of Toronto .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIBC World Markets Inc. | Vice Chairman, Investment Banking; Co-Head, Paper & Forest Products Group | 1987–2013; Co-Head 1995–2013 | Led capital markets and M&A in forest products; deep financing expertise |
| Peloton Advisors Inc. | Chief Executive Officer | Current | Corporate financial advisory; capital markets and strategic transactions |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee Inc. | Director and Chair of the Board | Since 2021 | Governance leadership at a global decaf coffee provider |
Board Governance
- Independence: The board determined nine of ten nominees are independent, including Wallace .
- Attendance: In 2024, all current board members attended 100% of board and committee meetings during their terms except two named exceptions; Wallace is not listed among exceptions, implying 100% attendance. Independent directors attended 100% of executive sessions; all directors attended the May 2024 annual meeting .
- Lead roles and expertise: Wallace is Audit Committee Chair and qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert.” He also served on the Human Resources Committee (HRC) in 2024 .
| Committee | Role | 2024 Meetings | Attendance | Key Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audit Committee | Chair | 4 | 100% average; Wallace not an exception to full attendance | Financial reporting, auditor oversight, internal controls, related-party review, cybersecurity and sustainability assurance |
| Human Resources Committee | Member | 5 | Committee average 96%; Wallace served on HRC | Executive and director compensation, equity plans, succession planning |
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer (non-employee director) | $80,000 | Standard retainer for directors other than Chairperson |
| Audit Committee Chair fee | $20,000 | Paid to committee chairs |
| Total fees earned in cash (2024) | $100,000 | As disclosed in Director Compensation Table |
| Meeting fees | $0 | No fees for meeting attendance |
| Expense reimbursement | Provided | Standard reimbursement of director expenses |
Performance Compensation
| Award Type | Grant Date | Units / Value | Vesting | Settlement | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSUs (Board/committee equity) | June 3, 2024 | 10,527 DSUs; $100,000 grant date fair value | Vests on the date of the 2025 Annual Meeting (May 30, 2025) | Shares upon ceasing to be a director unless deferred | Wallace elected 100% of 2024 equity comp in DSUs |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Other public company boards | Not disclosed beyond Swiss Water Decaffeinated Coffee Inc. directorship and chair role |
| Committee interlocks | No Human Resources Committee interlocks or insider participation requiring disclosure; Wallace served on the HRC in 2024 |
| Section 16 compliance | No delinquent insider reports for FY2024 |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Capital markets, M&A, and securities regulatory experience; extensive forest products financing and strategic transaction expertise .
- Audit “financial expert” per SEC/NASDAQ standards; chairs Audit Committee focused on reporting, internal control, risk, and sustainability assurance .
- International business and risk management experience in cyclical industries .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Owned | DSUs/Cash DSUs | Vested vs. Unvested | % Outstanding |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alan C. Wallace | 45,968 | 43,994.6 total units | 33,466 vested Cash DSUs; 10,527 unvested DSUs; 1,380.6 Cash DSU dividend equivalents | Less than 1% |
- Stock ownership guideline: Non-employee directors must own shares equal to 5x annual cash retainer within 5 years; all directors with 5+ years, including Wallace (director since 2018), met guidelines as of the record date .
- Hedging policy: Prohibits directors and executive officers from hedging Mercer stock (e.g., options, puts, calls, derivatives) .
- Pledging: No pledging disclosure specific to Wallace; not indicated in proxy .
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: Wallace’s Audit Chair role and “financial expert” designation, plus full attendance, indicate robust oversight of reporting, controls, and risk—supportive of investor confidence .
- Alignment: Election to receive DSUs and adherence to stringent stock ownership guidelines demonstrate alignment with long-term shareholder value .
- Conflicts and related-party exposure: Audit Committee oversees related-party transactions; no related-party disclosures or HRC interlocks involving Wallace were reported, reducing conflict risk .
- Shareholder signals: Prior year say-on-pay support was ~99.2%, reflecting broad shareholder endorsement of compensation governance (board HRC oversight includes director pay) .
RED FLAGS: None disclosed specific to Wallace regarding attendance shortfalls, related-party transactions, hedging/pledging, or delinquent insider reports .