Laura Orvidas
NETGEARAbout Laura C. Orvidas
Independent director of NETGEAR, Inc. since July 2024; age 51; CEO of onXmaps; previously ~18 years at Amazon in consumer electronics and Amazon Basics private label; prior strategy consultant at The Parthenon Group; Biology degree from Illinois Wesleyan University . Appointed to the Board in July 2024 upon recommendation from the CEO and elected by the Board; stands for re‑election at the 2025 Annual Meeting; classified as independent under Nasdaq and SEC rules .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com | Various positions culminating as Vice President across consumer electronics and Amazon Basics private label | ~18 years | Led e‑commerce growth and private label strategy |
| The Parthenon Group (EY-Parthenon) | Strategy Consultant | Not disclosed | Strategy and analytical rigor |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| onXmaps | Chief Executive Officer | Current | Consumer subscription leadership |
| Tile, Inc. | Independent Director | 3 years | Board oversight |
| Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership | Executive Board of Directors | Not disclosed | Finance Committee |
| Yellowstone Forever | Board/Committee | Not disclosed | Finance Committee |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Compensation and Talent Committee member (appointed July 16, 2024) and Cybersecurity Committee member (appointed July 16, 2024) .
- Independence: Independent under Nasdaq and SEC standards; all committees comprised solely of independent directors .
- Attendance: Board held 11 meetings in 2024; all directors attended at least 95% of Board and applicable committee meetings; all directors attended the 2024 Annual Meeting .
- Committee meeting cadence (2024): Audit 11; Compensation and Talent 5; Nominating and Corporate Governance 5; Cybersecurity 4 .
Fixed Compensation
| Component (FY2024) | Amount (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash fees | $35,000 | Pro‑rated after July 2024 appointment; Board retainer is $50,000 annually; Comp member $10,000; Cybersecurity member $10,000 (committee fees paid quarterly, pro‑rated) |
| Stock awards (RSUs) | $174,163 | Initial RSU grant of 11,150 units on July 16, 2024; vests entirely at the 2025 Annual Meeting |
| Options | — | No director option awards in 2024; no options outstanding |
| Total | $209,163 |
RSU Grant Details:
| Grant Date | Type | Shares (#) | Grant Date Fair Value | Vesting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 16, 2024 | RSU | 11,150 | $174,163 | Fully vests at 2025 Annual Meeting |
Director Compensation Program (structure):
- Board cash retainer $50,000; Compensation Committee member $10,000; Cybersecurity Committee member $10,000; chair premiums apply to chairs (not applicable to Orvidas) .
- Annual director RSU grant of $200,000 (rounded shares at meeting date), vesting at next Annual Meeting; new directors receive pro‑rated RSU grant vesting at the next Annual Meeting .
Performance Compensation
- No performance‑based director compensation disclosed; director equity grants are time‑based RSUs that vest at the subsequent Annual Meeting .
- Plan governance: Non‑employee director equity award limits under the 2025 Equity Incentive Plan—cash‑settled or stock‑settled equity awards capped at $500,000 per fiscal year ($1,000,000 in initial year) .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current public company boards | None |
| Committee roles at other public companies | None disclosed |
| Interlocks/conflicts | Compensation Committee disclosed no interlocks or insider participation with other companies . Related party transactions: none in 2024 . |
Expertise & Qualifications
- E‑commerce, consumer electronics, private label, and marketplace experience (Amazon) .
- Subscription software leadership (onXmaps) .
- Strategic planning and operations (EY‑Parthenon consulting background) .
- Education: Biology (Illinois Wesleyan University) .
- Relevance: Amazon is a major sales platform for NETGEAR; Orvidas provides institutional insight into channel strategy and consumer product positioning .
Equity Ownership
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership (common) | 11,150 shares underlying equity awards counted as beneficial within 60 days; total beneficial ownership 11,150; <1% of outstanding shares |
| Ownership guidelines | Directors must hold ≥5x cash retainer ($250,000); unvested RSUs count; all directors were in compliance as of Dec 31, 2024 |
| Hedging/pledging | Prohibited under insider trading policy; derivatives also prohibited |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent; dual committee roles in Compensation and Cybersecurity; strong attendance alongside Board (≥95% in 2024); director stock ownership guidelines met; no related party transactions; no director options; equity awards are time‑based, aligning with shareholder interests .
- Compensation governance: Compensation and Talent Committee uses independent consultant (FW Cook) and disclosed no interlocks; director cash/equity mix consistent with peer practice and subject to caps in the 2025 Equity Plan .
- Potential conflicts: None disclosed; note that her Amazon background is strategically relevant given Amazon’s importance as a NETGEAR sales platform, but no related party transactions or public company interlocks reported; hedging/pledging prohibited .
- RED FLAGS: None observed—no late Section 16 filings for Orvidas, no related‑party transactions, attendance strong, and director equity is time‑based without repricing .