Sherry Aaholm
OLD DOMINION FREIGHT LINEAbout Sherry Aaholm
Sherry A. Aaholm (age 62) has served as an independent director of Old Dominion Freight Line since 2018 and is NACD Directorship Certified; she holds a graduate degree in sustainability and brings over 36 years of technology leadership across transportation and manufacturing, including cybersecurity and digital/IoT solutions . She previously served as Vice President & Chief Digital Officer and earlier as CIO at Cummins, and as EVP, Information Technology at FedEx Services; she is also a director of nVent Electric PLC .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cummins, Inc. | Vice President & Chief Digital Officer | Apr 2021 – Jun 2024 | Led digital strategy; technology and information security leadership |
| Cummins, Inc. | Vice President – Chief Information Officer | Jun 2013 – Mar 2021 | Oversaw mission-critical information systems; cybersecurity governance |
| FedEx Services | Executive Vice President, Information Technology | Aug 1999 – Dec 2012 | Enterprise IT leadership across transportation and logistics |
External Roles
| Company | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| nVent Electric PLC | Director | Not disclosed (current) | Public company board service brings governance experience |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee member; Risk Committee Chair (independent) .
- Independence: Board determined Ms. Aaholm is independent under Nasdaq standards after reviewing relationships; independent directors held five executive sessions in 2024 .
- Attendance: Board held six meetings in 2024; all incumbent directors attended at least 75% of aggregate Board and assigned committee meetings; all directors in office attended the 2024 Annual Meeting .
- Committee cadence: Audit Committee met 10 times in 2024; Risk Committee met 4 times in 2024 .
- Risk oversight: As Risk Committee Chair, oversees enterprise risk including technology, cybersecurity incident response, business continuity and ESG-related risks; periodic reporting to the full Board .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Board cash retainer | $110,000 | 2024 structure (paid quarterly) |
| Committee chair cash fee (Risk Committee) | $20,000 | Annual chair stipend; in addition to retainer |
| Meeting fees | $0 | No additional compensation for meeting attendance; expenses reimbursed |
| Cash fees actually earned (2024) | $123,750 | Aaholm 2024 “Fees Earned or Paid in Cash” |
Performance Compensation
| Equity Grant | Grant Date | Shares (#) | Grant-date FMV ($) | Vesting | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSA (non-employee director annual grant) | May 15, 2024 | 795 | $146,216 | Vests on earlier of 1-year, change in control, death or disability while serving as director | Shares determined by $165,000 target ÷ 50-day avg price; FMV based on $183.92 close on grant date |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Committee roles | Potential interlocks/conflicts |
|---|---|---|---|
| nVent Electric PLC | Director | Not disclosed | None disclosed; Board affirmed independence and no relationships impairing judgment |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Technology and cybersecurity: Led mission-critical IT, cybersecurity, data privacy, and digital/IoT programs in transportation/manufacturing; governance experience with risk technology oversight .
- Sustainability: Holds a graduate degree in sustainability; contributes ESG and human capital insights to the Board .
- NACD Directorship Certified: Ongoing education and governance best-practice credentials .
- Human capital: Built leadership programs and cultivated talent across large organizations .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Beneficial Shares | % of Outstanding | Pledging/Hedging | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherry A. Aaholm | 10,851 | <1% | No pledging; hedging and pledging prohibited by policy | As of March 13, 2025; Company states none of directors/executives have pledged stock |
- Stock ownership guidelines: Directors must hold equity equal to 5x annual Board cash retainer; retention rules apply per Stock Ownership Policy .
- Compliance status with director guideline for Ms. Aaholm: Not disclosed .
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: Independence affirmed; active leadership as Risk Committee Chair with explicit oversight of cybersecurity, business continuity, and ESG risks—positive for investor confidence in operational resilience .
- Engagement and attendance: At least 75% attendance standard met across incumbents; Audit and Risk committees met 10 and 4 times, respectively, indicating regular oversight cadence; all directors attended the 2024 Annual Meeting .
- Alignment and incentives: Director pay mix combines fixed cash (retainer plus chair fee) and annual RSA with one-year vesting; no meeting fees; efficient equity usage under plan governance .
- Conflicts and related parties: No related-party transactions disclosed involving Ms. Aaholm; the Company maintains a formal Related Person Transactions Policy under Audit Committee review and prohibits hedging and pledging; none of directors/executives have pledged shares—a key alignment signal .
- RED FLAGS: None disclosed specific to Ms. Aaholm (no related-party transactions, no pledging, no hedging; independence affirmed) .