Shashank Samant
ODPAbout Shashank Samant
Independent director at The ODP Corporation since 2020; age 56 as of the February 13, 2025 nomination date. Former President & CEO of GlobalLogic (2011–2022) and later its Chairman (Oct 2022–Mar 2024). Earlier roles include President at Ness Technologies, leading professional services for HP’s Verifone, and establishing IBM’s first India-based engineering lab; core credentials span technology services leadership, strategy/execution, and operations across tech, energy, and mobility sectors .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| GlobalLogic Inc. | President & CEO | 2011–2022 | Led digital product engineering leader; strategic development and execution |
| GlobalLogic Inc. | Chairman of the Board | Oct 2022 – Mar 2024 | Board leadership post-CEO tenure |
| Ness Technologies | President | Not disclosed | Founded/built product engineering services business |
| HP (Verifone) | Led professional services | Not disclosed | Services leadership for Verifone business |
| IBM | Established first India-based engineering lab | Not disclosed | Globalized R&D/software engineering |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rackspace Technology Inc. | Lead Director | Since 2021 – present | Current public company directorship |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Compensation & Talent Committee member; Chair, Corporate Governance & Nominating Committee .
- Independence: Board affirmatively determined Samant is independent under Nasdaq/SEC standards .
- Attendance: In FY2024, Board held 14 meetings; all current directors attended ≥75% of Board and applicable committee meetings; 11 executive sessions of non-management directors were held .
- Board structure and quality: 100% independent committees; independent non-executive Chair; majority voting/resignation policy; proxy access; regular executive sessions; annual board/committee self-evaluations overseen by CG&N (which Samant chairs) .
- Risk oversight: Committees oversee key risk domains; CG&N (chaired by Samant) oversees governance structure, director independence, related-person transactions, sustainability oversight, and CEO succession planning .
Fixed Compensation
Policy framework (non-employee directors):
| Component | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $92,500 | Paid in cash |
| Annual equity retainer (RSUs) | $157,500 | Granted post-annual meeting; shares distributed after board service ends per elections |
| CG&N Committee Chair fee | $15,000 | Additional cash retainer for committee chair role |
| Compensation & Talent Committee member fee | $10,000 | Additional cash retainer for committee member role |
2024 actual compensation (fiscal year):
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Fees earned or paid in cash | $116,522 |
| Stock awards (grant-date fair value) | $157,510 |
| Option awards | $0 (none) |
| Total | $274,032 |
Equity grant detail (FY2024):
| Grant date | Shares (RSUs) | Price | Grant-date value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4/26/2024 | 3,065 | $51.39 | $157,510 |
Performance Compensation
| Performance-linked element | Disclosed terms |
|---|---|
| Director performance plan(s) | None disclosed; director pay comprises cash retainer, committee fees, and time-vested RSUs (no options/PSUs) |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Type | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current public boards | Rackspace Technology Inc. – Lead Director |
| Compensation committee interlocks | Company discloses no interlocks or insider participation conflicts for C&T Committee members, including Samant |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Significant senior leadership in technology services at both small and large companies; deep strategy, execution, and operations experience; industry expertise across technology, energy, and mobility .
- As CG&N Chair, leads on governance principles, board structure/composition, independence assessments, related-party transaction oversight, board evaluations, sustainability oversight, and CEO succession planning .
Equity Ownership
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership (common shares) | 272 shares; <1% of 29,818,271 shares outstanding as of Mar 3, 2025 |
| RSUs (fully vested; deferred distribution) | 22,301 units as of Dec 28, 2024; distribution after separation per elections |
| Options | None disclosed |
| Ownership guidelines | Directors must hold ≥5x cash retainer ($462,500) and retain 100% of net shares until service ends (updated in 2025 to 50% retention until guideline met for shares awarded beginning 2026); Samant has met the guideline |
| Hedging/pledging | Company prohibits hedging and pledging by directors and executive officers |
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: Samant strengthens board governance through his chair role at CG&N, directly overseeing board composition, independence, board/committee evaluations, succession planning, and sustainability oversight—key levers for investor confidence .
- Alignment and incentives: Director pay structure is simple and shareholder-aligned (cash + time-vested RSUs), with no options/performance equity; Samant complies with robust ownership guidelines and is subject to anti-hedging/anti-pledging policies .
- Independence and conflicts: Board affirmed Samant’s independence; company reports no related-person transactions requiring disclosure in FY2024 and no C&T interlocks; this reduces conflict risk .
- Engagement: Attendance thresholds were met (≥75% for all directors) with frequent executive sessions; CG&N’s remit and shareholder engagement framework support active oversight and responsiveness to investors .
Red flags and risk indicators: None identified specific to Samant—no pledging/hedging, no related-party transactions, independence confirmed, and straightforward director compensation without option repricing or tax gross-ups .