Amy B. Lane
NEXTERA ENERGYAbout Amy B. Lane
Amy B. Lane, age 72, is an independent director of NextEra Energy (NEE) since 2015 and currently serves as Lead Director (appointed May 2024). She holds an MBA from the Wharton School and retired in 2002 after a 26-year investment banking career focused on retail and capital markets. The Board extended her eligibility beyond the normal retirement age for the 2025 election based on her extensive financial, leadership and strategy skills and her effective service as Lead Director .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. | Managing Director; Group Leader, Global Retailing Investment Banking | 1997–2002 (retired 2002) | Led M&A and equity/debt transactions for major retailers |
| Salomon Brothers, Inc. | Managing Director; Founder/Leader, Retail Industry Investment Banking | 1989–1997 | Founded and led retail IB unit; senior deal leadership |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| FedEx Corp. | Director | Since 2022 | Not disclosed in NEE proxy |
| The TJX Companies, Inc. | Director | Since 2005 | Not disclosed in NEE proxy |
Board Governance
- Current roles: Lead Director; Chair, Governance & Nominating Committee; Member, Compensation and Executive Committees .
- Independence: Board affirmatively determined Lane is independent under NYSE and NEE Governance Guidelines .
- Attendance: Board met 6 times in 2024; each current director attended 100% of Board and their committee meetings. Her committees held: Compensation (4), Governance & Nominating (4), Executive (0) in 2024 .
- Engagement: As Lead Director, participated in shareholder outreach with many top-10 holders representing 26.23% of shares outstanding, informing governance enhancements .
- Succession/refreshment: Governance & Nominating discussed Board composition and refreshment each meeting in 2024; retirement age extended unanimously for Lane due to experience and continuity amid recent Board changes .
Fixed Compensation (Director)
| Component | 2024 Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $195,000 | Reflects base plus role-based retainers (Lead Director; committee chair) |
| Equity retainer (grant-date fair value) | $185,555 | Granted as common stock; 3,240 shares at $57.27 on 2/15/2024 |
| Total 2024 compensation | $380,555 | — |
2025 schedule (structure for non-employee directors):
- Annual cash retainer: $145,000; Equity retainer: shares equal to $185,000 (2,700 shares granted 2/13/2025) .
- Additional cash retainers: Lead Director $40,000; Committee chairs—Audit/Nuclear $25,000; other committees $20,000 .
Performance Compensation (Director)
| Element | Grant Detail | Vesting/Restrictions | Policy/Metrics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equity retainer (2024) | 3,240 common shares at $57.27 (grant-date FV $185,555) | Shares generally not transferable until stock ownership guideline met; dividend payable; deferral allowed | Director ownership guideline: 7x annual cash retainer, compliance within 6 years |
| Equity retainer (2025) | 2,700 common shares granted 2/13/2025 | Same restrictions; dividends; deferral option | Anti-hedging and anti-pledging policies applicable to directors |
Note: Director pay is not tied to operating or financial performance metrics; equity grants align interests through ownership and retention policies .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
- Current public boards: FedEx Corp.; TJX Companies, Inc. .
- Related-party transactions: NEE’s Related Person Transactions section discloses several items (e.g., services by 5% shareholders; a family employment relationship for another director), with no transactions noted involving Lane .
- Potential interlocks/conflicts: None disclosed with NEE’s customers/suppliers; independence affirmed .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Financial services leadership (MD roles at Merrill Lynch and Salomon Brothers; capital markets; M&A) .
- Strategy and governance experience; effective Lead Director role emphasized by Board and shareholder outreach participation .
- Education: MBA, Wharton School .
Equity Ownership
| Metric | Value | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Shares owned (direct) | 24,752 | |
| Shares which may be acquired within 60 days | — (none reported) | |
| Total shares beneficially owned | 24,752 | |
| Phantom/deferred shares | 26,393 | |
| Pledged as collateral | None (Company states no shares pledged by directors/officers as of 3/25/2025) | |
| Ownership guideline (7x cash retainer) compliance | Meets guideline (all directors except two newer members; Lane not among exceptions) |
Insider Trades
| Date (filed/trade) | Transaction | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 13, 2025 (filed Feb 14, 2025) | Common Stock Award (Director equity grant) | 2,700 shares (Direct) | |
| Feb 13, 2025 | Stock Award (Grant) | 2,700 shares listed for Lane | |
| Feb 14, 2025 | Summary of insider awards including Lane 2,700 shares | Confirmation of award entry |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent Lead Director role with robust duties (agenda approval, executive session leadership, shareholder engagement); 100% attendance; significant capital markets expertise; chairs Governance & Nominating; meets stringent 7x retainer ownership guideline; subject to anti-hedging/anti-pledging policies .
- Compensation alignment: Balanced cash/equity director compensation; equity retainer supports ownership alignment; no per-meeting fees; deferral options and transfer restrictions promote long-term holding .
- Refreshment & continuity: Extension beyond age 72 deemed necessary for Board continuity amidst recent retirements/new members; transparent disclosure of retirement policy application .
- Risks/monitoring: Age extension may raise refreshment/perceived tenure concerns; multiple external boards (FedEx, TJX) require monitoring under the amended Governance Guidelines addressing director time commitments; Board conducts annual evaluations and reviews time commitments .
- Conflicts/red flags: No related-party transactions disclosed involving Lane; no pledged shares; adherence to trading, anti-hedging, and anti-pledging policies mitigates alignment risks .