Kristen Actis-Grande
PULTEGROUP INC/MI/About Kristen Actis‑Grande
Independent director at PulteGroup (PHM) since 2024; age 44. She is an audit committee financial expert with deep CFO experience across complex industrial and distribution businesses, holding a B.S. in Finance from Lehigh University and an MBA from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business . Tenure includes service on PHM’s Audit and Finance & Investment Committees, with independence affirmed by the PHM Board under NYSE standards .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. | EVP & Chief Financial Officer | Aug 2020 – Aug 2025 | Led finance, corporate strategy, M&A, IR; extensive internal controls and reporting leadership |
| Ingersoll Rand Inc. | Divisional CFO (Compression Technologies & Services); CFO Residential HVAC & Supply | 2016–2020 (various roles over 17 years) | Financial leadership across manufacturing divisions; risk management and internal controls experience |
| Ingersoll Rand Inc. | Finance leadership roles (various) | ~2003–2020 | Built breadth in financial reporting, controls, risk assessment |
External Roles
| Organization | Position | Start Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sealed Air Corporation (NYSE: SEE) | Chief Financial Officer | Aug 25, 2025 | New CFO; transformation-focused operating rigor; compensation terms summarized below |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee member and Finance & Investment Committee member; designated an Audit Committee financial expert .
- Committee meeting cadence (2024): Audit 8x; Compensation 4x; Nominating & Governance 7x; Finance & Investment 6x .
- Independence: Board affirmatively determined Actis‑Grande is independent under PHM’s Corporate Governance Guidelines and NYSE standards .
- Attendance: Every director attended at least 90% of Board and committee meetings in 2024; all directors attended the 2024 annual meeting; PHM holds regular executive sessions of non‑management directors .
- Board leadership: Independent Non‑Executive Chairman structure; regular executive sessions and clear delineation of oversight roles .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | 2024 Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cash fees (pro‑rated for partial year) | $62,115 | Annual Board membership fee is $95,000; committee chair and Non‑Executive Chair retainers apply where relevant |
| Equity retainer (annual grant) | $180,075 | Granted 1,528 common shares on May 6, 2024 (valued at $180,000 using average of high/low); standard annual equity retainer is $180,000 |
| Deferred compensation | None (for Actis‑Grande) | Directors may defer cash/equity; her deferred share units were zero as of 12/31/2024 |
Director compensation program elements:
- Annual cash retainer: $95,000; Committee chair retainer: $25,000 (Audit Chair: $30,000); Non‑Executive Chairman retainer: $75,000 .
- Annual equity retainer: $180,000 in common shares .
- Deferred Compensation Plan for Non‑Employee Directors with specified rates and payout structures .
Performance Compensation
- PHM non‑employee directors do not receive performance‑based pay; compensation comprises cash retainers and annual equity grants; no performance metrics are attached to director compensation .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Committees/Notes |
|---|---|---|
| None disclosed | — | No other public company directorships disclosed for Actis‑Grande besides PHM . |
| Sealed Air (SEE) | CFO (executive role) | Not a director; executive compensation terms summarized below . |
Potential interlock/conflict considerations:
- External executive role: CFO of SEE while serving on PHM Board. PHM’s time‑commitment guidelines limit total public company boards and are reviewed annually; all nominees were deemed compliant at nomination, and independence was affirmed; no related‑party transactions disclosed involving Actis‑Grande .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Financial expert designation on Audit Committee; deep experience in complex financial reporting, internal controls, risk management, and transformation .
- Industry breadth: manufacturing, HVAC/residential supply, distribution (MRO), packaging; exposure to homebuilding end‑markets via prior Residential HVAC division CFO role .
- Education: B.S. Finance (Lehigh University); MBA (Indiana University Kelley School of Business) .
Equity Ownership
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Annual equity award | 1,528 PHM common shares granted May 6, 2024 under director equity retainer |
| Deferred share units | 0 as of Dec 31, 2024 (Actis‑Grande) |
| Director ownership guidelines | At least 5x annual cash retainer to be achieved within 5 years of Board election; applies to non‑employee directors |
| Hedging/pledging policy | Prohibits hedging and pledging of Company securities by directors and employees |
Governance Assessment
-
Positives:
- Independence affirmed; Audit Committee financial expert; meaningful finance and operating rigor background supporting PHM’s oversight quality .
- Strong attendance norms for Board and committees; robust governance architecture (independent chair, executive sessions) .
- Clear and shareholder‑friendly director compensation structure; ownership alignment via equity retainer and director ownership guidelines; robust anti‑hedging/pledging policy .
-
Watch items:
- Time commitments: concurrent SEE CFO role increases workload; PHM’s Nominating & Governance Committee annually reviews time commitments and confirmed compliance for nominees at the 2025 meeting . Monitor for any future changes in committee load or attendance.
- Related‑party exposure: None disclosed for Actis‑Grande; Board independence determination was positive; continue to monitor for any business ties between PHM and SEE (none disclosed) .
-
RED FLAGS: None disclosed specific to Actis‑Grande (no pledging/hedging, no related‑party transactions, independence affirmed, attendance strong) .
Employment & Contracts (External Executive Role at SEE)
| Compensation Element | Terms |
|---|---|
| Base salary | $730,000 (annual) |
| Target bonus | 85% of base salary for 2025 (max 200% of target; prorated for start date) |
| Sign‑on bonus | $365,000 cash; subject to standard repayment agreement |
| New‑hire equity | Time‑vesting RSUs valued at $2,750,000 (three‑year ratable vesting) |
| Ongoing LTI target | $1,460,000 (prorated in 2025); 50% RSUs / 50% PSUs; PSUs tied to same goals as 2025 executive leadership PSUs |
| 2026 LTI target | 200% of base salary |
| Severance/benefits | Eligible under SEE’s Executive Severance Plan and standard benefits |
Say‑on‑Pay & Shareholder Feedback (PHM context)
- PHM’s 2024 say‑on‑pay approval ~92%; five‑year average ~92%, reflecting sustained investor support for compensation governance .
Compensation Structure Analysis (PHM director context)
- Stable cash/equity mix; no options or performance‑linked equity for directors; annual equity grant in shares promotes alignment without over‑complexity .
- Deferred compensation available; no tax gross‑ups or shareholder‑unfriendly provisions disclosed for directors .
Related Party Transactions (Conflict checks)
- PHM’s proxy discloses “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions”; Board specifically evaluated independence and found Actis‑Grande independent; no transactions requiring disclosure involving her were noted .
Additional Notes
- PHM Board uses ongoing refreshment, age cap (no standing for election after 75), and robust assessments at Board, committee, and individual director levels—strengthening effectiveness .
- Director time‑commitment policy caps total public company boards and requires notification prior to audit/compensation committee assignments elsewhere; all nominees compliant at time of proxy .
Overall, Actis‑Grande brings credible finance, controls, and transformation expertise to PHM’s Board, with strong independence and attendance, alignment through equity ownership guidelines, and no disclosed conflicts. Continued monitoring of time commitments due to her SEE CFO role is warranted, but PHM’s governance processes and annual reviews mitigate risk .