Julie Schoenfeld
PITNEY BOWES INC /DE/About Julie Schoenfeld
Independent director of Pitney Bowes Inc. since October 2024; age 67. Veteran technology founder and CEO (Strobe, Perfect Market, OEwaves) with post-acquisition leadership at Cruise Automation (GM) overseeing LiDAR program management for autonomous vehicles. Appointed to strengthen technology and transformation oversight as part of PBI’s 2024 board refresh; all directors other than the CEO are independent under NYSE rules .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Strobe, Inc. | Founder, President & CEO | 2014–2017 | Founded LiDAR tech company; acquired by GM subsidiary Cruise Automation (2017) . |
| Cruise Automation (GM) | Vice President, Strobe LiDAR | Not disclosed | Program management for GM’s first fully autonomous vehicle following Strobe acquisition . |
| Perfect Market, Inc. | President & CEO | 2007–2014 | Led company through sale to Taboola . |
| OEwaves, Inc. | CEO & Founder | 2000–2007 | Early-stage photonics/oscillator technology leadership . |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Public/Private | Tenure/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Global Infrastructure Solutions Inc. | Director | Not disclosed | Current board role . |
| OEwaves, Inc. | Director | Private | Current board role . |
| Caltech Seed Fund | Fund Manager | Private/Academic | Current role . |
| California Institute of Technology | Entrepreneur-in-Residence | Academic | Current role . |
| Startek, Inc. | Former Director | Public | Prior public company directorship . |
Board Governance
- Independence: Independent (all directors other than CEO) .
- Committee assignments (current): Audit Committee member; Chair, Governance Committee .
- Board structure: Separate Non-Executive Chair (Milena Alberti-Perez) and CEO roles; independent leadership enhanced in Oct 2024 .
- Attendance and engagement: In 2024, each director attended ≥75% of applicable Board and committee meetings; the Board held 35 Board meetings and 23 committee meetings amid strategic actions (GEC exit, CEO search, cost/cash optimization). Independent directors met in executive session regularly .
- 2024 board refresh: Added three new directors (including Schoenfeld) to bolster finance/technology/transformation oversight .
| Committee | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Audit | Member | Oversees financial reporting, internal controls, ethics/compliance; IT and cybersecurity oversight sits with Audit . |
| Governance | Chair | Oversees board succession, nominations, director pay, board effectiveness, related-party review; manages governance documents and policies . |
Fixed Compensation
| Year | Cash Fees ($) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 18,546 | Pro-rated cash for partial year service and committee leadership starting October 2024 . |
| Standard Director Fees (Policy) | Annual Amount ($) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Non-Executive Director Base Retainer (cash) | 75,000 | Paid quarterly; pro-rated for partial year . |
| Equity Retainer (RSUs) | 100,000 | Annual grant; vests one year after grant . |
| Audit Committee – Chair / Member (cash) | 12,000 / 12,000 | Annual; pro-rated . |
| Executive Compensation – Chair / Member (cash) | 10,500 / 10,500 | Annual; pro-rated . |
| Governance – Chair / Member (cash) | 9,000 / 9,000 | Annual; pro-rated . |
Additional notes:
- VEC one-time 2024 stipends (cash $50,000 + $325,000 RSUs) applied to VEC members only; Schoenfeld is not listed as a VEC member .
- Directors may defer cash via the Directors’ Deferred Incentive Savings Plan .
Performance Compensation
| Award Type | Grant Date | Shares/Units | Grant-Date FV ($) | Vesting | Performance Metrics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSUs (pro-rated for 2024 appointment) | Nov 21, 2024 | 6,805 | 52,329 | Cliff vest one year after grant under Directors’ Stock Plan | None (time-based) . |
Additional notes:
- Annual equity retainer is delivered in RSUs with one-year vest; dividend equivalents paid in cash while unvested; directors may elect to defer RSU settlement until termination of service .
- No stock options or PSUs are granted to directors under the director program in 2024 .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Relationship to PBI | Potential Interlock/Conflict |
|---|---|---|
| Global Infrastructure Solutions Inc.; OEwaves, Inc.; Caltech roles | None disclosed | The Governance Committee reported no related-person transactions since Jan 1, 2024; policy prohibits non-arm’s-length dealings >$120k without approval . |
| Startek, Inc. (former) | None | Historical only; no current interlock disclosed . |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Technology entrepreneur with exits: founded Strobe (LiDAR) sold to GM’s Cruise; CEO roles at Perfect Market (sold to Taboola) and OEwaves .
- Autonomy and advanced sensing: VP Strobe LiDAR at Cruise Automation; program management for GM’s first fully autonomous vehicle .
- Board governance: Current governance chair at PBI; prior public board experience (Startek) .
Equity Ownership
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Beneficially owned PBI common shares | 0 shares; <1% of class . |
| Options exercisable within 60 days | 0 . |
| Unvested RSUs outstanding | 6,805 RSUs granted 11/21/2024; vests after one year . |
| Shares pledged | None disclosed; company prohibits pledging/hedging by directors/officers . |
| Director ownership guideline | 5x base cash retainer ($375,000) within 5 years of board service start . |
Policy safeguards:
- Prohibition on hedging and pledging; insider trading policy in place .
- Directors’ equity deferral and cash deferral programs available; promotes long-term alignment .
Governance Assessment
-
Strengths
- Independent, technology-forward operator with founder/exit pedigree; apt for PBI’s transformation and technology oversight .
- Governance Chair plus Audit member role positions her to influence board composition, director pay, board effectiveness, cybersecurity/IT risk oversight, and related-party screening .
- Board structure and practices (separate Chair/CEO; executive sessions; majority independent; stock ownership guidelines; hedging/pledging prohibitions) support investor-aligned oversight .
-
Watchpoints
- Low current beneficial ownership (new director; RSUs unvested) — alignment expected to increase as grants vest and ownership guideline phases in over 5 years .
- 2024 saw unusually high Board/committee workload; sustainability of engagement remains a monitoring area, though attendance thresholds were met (≥75%) .
-
Red flags
- None disclosed: no related-party transactions since Jan 1, 2024; no pledging/hedging; no compensation anomalies for Schoenfeld (standard pro-rated cash and RSU awards) .