James Quincey
PFIZERAbout James Quincey
James Quincey, age 60, has served as an independent director of Pfizer since 2020 and is a member of the Compensation Committee. He is Chairman (since 2019) and Chief Executive Officer (since 2017) of The Coca‑Cola Company, with prior leadership roles including President & COO (2015–2017), President of the Europe Group, President of Northwest Europe & Nordics, and President of the Mexico division. He brings core credentials in global business leadership, finance, international operations, human capital management, and technology/cybersecurity. The Board has determined he is independent under NYSE and Pfizer standards.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Coca‑Cola Company | President & Chief Operating Officer | 2015–2017 | Led global operations; M&A and strategy oversight |
| The Coca‑Cola Company | President, Europe Group | — | Led international operations across Europe |
| The Coca‑Cola Company | President, Northwest Europe & Nordics | — | Regional leadership, commercial execution |
| The Coca‑Cola Company | President, Mexico Division | — | Regional leadership, operations |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Coca‑Cola Company | Chairman of the Board | 2019–present | Overall governance; responsible for company’s IT function in leadership role |
| The Coca‑Cola Company | Chief Executive Officer | 2017–present | Global operations, finance, strategy, M&A, technology |
| US‑China Business Council | Director | — | International business and policy |
| Catalyst | Director | — | Human capital and DEI |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Compensation Committee member; Compensation Committee report signatories include James C. Smith (Chair), Ronald E. Blaylock, James Quincey, and Cyrus Taraporevala.
- Independence: Board determined all current directors other than the CEO (Albert Bourla) are independent; list includes James Quincey.
- Attendance and engagement: In 2024, the Board met seven times and each director attended at least 75% of the total meetings of the Board and the committees on which they served; all directors attended the 2024 Annual Meeting.
- Lead Independent Director: Shantanu Narayen.
Fixed Compensation
Director Retainer Structure (Non‑Employee Directors)
| Element | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $155,000 | Payable quarterly; may be deferred |
| Annual equity grant (stock units) | $205,000 | DSUs; may be deferred; payable after board service |
| Committee Chair fee (additional) | $30,000 | Per committee chaired |
| Lead Independent Director fee (additional) | $50,000 | — |
| Ownership guideline | 5x annual cash retainer ($775,000) | All directors currently comply; 5‑year milestones for new directors |
| Plan cap | $800,000 total (cash + equity) per 12 months | Under 2019 Stock Plan |
| Hedging/pledging | Prohibited; none of the directors have pledged Pfizer stock | — |
James Quincey – 2024 Director Compensation
| Year | Fees Earned (Cash) | Stock Awards (Grant‑Date Fair Value) | All Other Compensation | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $155,000 | $205,000 | $20,000 (Pfizer Foundation matching gifts) | $380,000 |
Performance Compensation
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Director equity vehicle | Pfizer stock units (deferred stock units), not performance‑based |
| 2024 grant mechanics | Number of units determined by $205,000 ÷ $25.26 (Pfizer close on 2024‑04‑25) |
| 2024 grant observed on Form 4 | 8,115.598 phantom stock units on 2024‑04‑25; post‑transaction holdings 48,495.58 units |
| Deferral/settlement | Eligible directors may defer units; deferred units accrue dividend equivalents; payable upon/after board service in cash or shares at the director’s election |
| 2025 program note | Upon 2025 Annual Meeting, non‑employee directors to receive stock units per program (grant value currently $205,000) |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company/Organization | Type | Role | Interlock/Conflict Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Coca‑Cola Company | Public | Chairman and CEO | No related‑party transactions involving Mr. Quincey disclosed by Pfizer; independence affirmed by Board |
| US‑China Business Council | Non‑profit | Director | — |
| Catalyst | Non‑profit | Director | — |
Related‑party screening: The proxy discloses ordinary‑course transactions with certain director‑affiliated entities and confirms independence determinations; the list does not include Mr. Quincey, and the Board affirmed his independence.
Expertise & Qualifications
- Business leadership and operations; international business; finance and accounting; human capital management; technology and cybersecurity.
- Responsible for the IT function in his leadership role at The Coca‑Cola Company, providing technology oversight experience relevant to Pfizer.
Equity Ownership
| Measure | Value | Source/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Aggregate Pfizer stock units held at 12/31/2024 | 55,029 units (includes dividend equivalents) | Director totals table |
| Most recent reported holdings (2025) | 71,917.073 units as of 2025‑09‑30 (post‑transaction) | Form 4 on 2025‑10‑02 |
| Ownership guideline status | All directors comply with 5x cash retainer guideline; hedging/pledging prohibited and none pledged |
Insider Trades (Form 4s) – Recent Activity
Pattern: Regular quarterly phantom stock unit accruals and annual grants aligned with director compensation deferral elections; awards increase deferred holdings and reinforce alignment. (see individual Form 4 links above)
Governance Assessment
- Independence and conflicts: Board affirmed Mr. Quincey’s independence; no related‑party transactions involving him were disclosed in Pfizer’s independence review. This mitigates conflict risk despite his CEO role at The Coca‑Cola Company.
- Committee influence: As a member of the Compensation Committee (with Smith as Chair), he participates in executive pay oversight; the Committee recommended inclusion of the CD&A in the proxy, indicating active engagement.
- Ownership alignment: Strong alignment via mandatory ownership guideline (5x cash retainer) with full Board compliance; hedging/pledging prohibited and none pledged. His deferred stock unit balance increased from 55,029 (YE 2024) to 71,917 (Sep‑2025).
- Attendance/engagement: Board met 7 times in 2024, and each director (including Mr. Quincey) attended at least 75% of Board and committee meetings; all attended the Annual Meeting.
- Compensation structure: Director pay mix emphasizes equity ($205k DSUs) alongside cash ($155k), with ability to defer and long‑dated settlement; no performance‑vested elements (typical for directors), reducing pay‑for‑performance controversy but reinforcing ownership alignment.
RED FLAGS: None identified in Pfizer’s disclosures regarding Mr. Quincey. Monitoring items include external time commitments as a sitting CEO and continued Compensation Committee responsibilities; however, independence and attendance thresholds were met per 2024 disclosures.