James L. Camaren
Director at NEE
Board
About James L. Camaren
James L. Camaren, age 70, has served as an independent director of NextEra Energy (NEE) since 2002. He is a private investor and was formerly Chairman and CEO of Utilities, Inc., one of the largest investor-owned water utilities in the U.S., with deep experience in capital expenditures, regulatory affairs, environmental compliance, and investor relations. At NEE he serves on the Compensation Committee and the Finance & Investment Committee.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utilities, Inc. | Chairman & CEO; previously Vice President Business Development, EVP, Vice Chairman | Joined 1987; Chairman & CEO from 1996 until May 2006; company acquired by Nuon in March 2002; subsequent sale April 2006 | Led customer growth above industry average; acquired and integrated 40+ utilities |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | — | No current public company directorships disclosed for Camaren in NEE’s proxy |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Compensation Committee member; Finance & Investment Committee member. Not a committee chair.
- Attendance and engagement: 100% attendance at Board and assigned committee meetings in 2024; all 11 then-current directors attended the 2024 annual meeting.
- Independence: Board determined Camaren is independent under NYSE standards and NEE’s Governance Guidelines; determination considered his son-in-law’s non-executive employment at a subsidiary (2024 compensation approx. $215,000).
- Governance practices affecting director oversight: Compensation Committee met 4× in 2024; Finance & Investment Committee met 9×; the Audit Committee charter was amended in Feb 2025 to include AI risk oversight and Governance & Nominating oversight includes ESG risks.
- Board structure: Lead Director (Amy B. Lane) role established with strong duties; executive sessions occur after each regularly scheduled committee meeting.
Fixed Compensation
| Component (2024 unless noted) | Detail | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | Non-employee director cash retainer | $145,000 |
| Committee chair fees | Not applicable (Camaren is not a chair) | $0 |
| Meeting fees | NEE eliminated meeting fees beginning in 2023 | $0 |
| Equity grant (2024) | 3,240 NEE shares at $57.27 per share (grant date Feb 15, 2024), aggregate grant date fair value | $185,555 |
| 2025 annual retainers (context) | Cash retainer $145,000; 2,700 shares granted Feb 13, 2025 for 2025 equity retainer | Equity shares; cash as above |
| Total 2024 director compensation (Camaren) | Cash + stock awards | $330,555 |
- Compensation mix: Cash ≈ 43.9% ($145,000) vs Equity ≈ 56.1% ($185,555) for 2024.
Performance Compensation
| Element | Structure | Metrics | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Options | None granted to non-employee directors | — | $0 |
| Performance-based equity/bonus | Not used for non-employee directors; annual equity retainer is time-based share grant | No financial/operational performance metrics tied to director pay disclosed | N/A |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Relationship | Potential Interlock/Conflict |
|---|---|---|
| None disclosed | — | No interlocks disclosed for Camaren with competitors/suppliers/customers in the proxy |
Expertise & Qualifications
- 19 years leadership in a large regulated utility; experience managing capital expenditures, environmental compliance, regulatory affairs, and investor relations.
- Track record of growth and M&A integration in utilities (40+ acquisitions integrated).
- At NEE, contributes to compensation oversight and financial policy/financing review via committee roles.
Equity Ownership
| Category (as of March 25, 2025) | Shares/Units |
|---|---|
| Shares owned (beneficial) | 164,320 |
| Shares which may be acquired within 60 days | — (none reported for directors) |
| Phantom/deferred shares | 33,440 |
| Restricted stock included within “shares owned” | 12,800 (voting power, not dispositive power) |
| Pledged as collateral | None (No shares pledged) |
| Stock ownership guidelines | Directors required to own NEE stock equal to 7x annual cash retainer within six years; Camaren meets guideline (all except Henry, Stahlkopf, Martha meet). |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Long-tenured independent director with deep regulated-utility operating and M&A experience; active roles on Compensation and Finance & Investment Committees; perfect attendance in 2024; robust stock ownership aligned with NEE’s director guideline. These factors support board effectiveness and investor confidence.
- Compensation alignment: Director pay is reasonable, primarily retainer-based with fixed equity grants and no options or meeting fees, reducing pay-related risk. No increase from 2023 levels; standard 2025 retainers applied.
- Policy safeguards: Anti-hedging/anti-pledging, clawback policies, proxy access, and strong board evaluation practices enhance governance quality.
- Potential red flags: Related-person employment—son-in-law employed by a subsidiary with 2024 compensation approx. $215,000; Board reviewed and still affirmed independence, but continued monitoring is prudent.
- Risk oversight signals: Committee structure covers financing, compensation risks, and broader enterprise risks; Audit Committee explicitly oversees AI risk from 2025, indicating evolving technology oversight.
Director Compensation Detail (Reference)
| Item | 2024 Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fees earned/paid in cash | $145,000 | Annual cash retainer |
| Stock awards (grant date fair value) | $185,555 | 3,240 shares @ $57.27 on Feb 15, 2024 |
| Options | $0 | None |
| Non-equity incentive | $0 | None |
| All other compensation | $0 | None reported for Camaren |
| Total | $330,555 | Cash + equity |
Board Committee Activity (Context)
| Committee | Role | Meetings (2024) | Key Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compensation | Member | 4 | CEO/NEO pay, incentive plans, director pay recommendations, consultant oversight |
| Finance & Investment | Member | 9 | Financing plans, dividend policy, trading risk management, capital expenditure review, pension/decommissioning funds |
Related Party Considerations
- Policy: Related Person Transactions Policy governs transactions >$120,000; considers relationship, material facts, benefits to NEE/shareholders, third-party comparability.
- Specific case: Camaren’s adult son-in-law employed as senior financial analyst; 2024 compensation approx. $215,000; independence retained following Board review.
Signals for Investors
- Alignment: High personal share ownership with no pledging; compliance with stringent ownership guideline.
- Engagement: 100% attendance demonstrates strong engagement; committee service in core oversight areas.
- Transparency: Explicit disclosure of related-person employment and independence assessment; stable director pay structure.