David C. Sunkle
About David C. Sunkle
Independent director (since 2020), age 67, with 42 years at Preformed Line Products culminating as Vice President, Research, Engineering and Manufacturing (retired Dec 2020). Deep technical and operations background; longtime member of IEEE (since 1990), CIGRE (since 1989; served as convenor) and ASME; authored industry papers and helped write standards (e.g., damper testing, OPGW, ADSS). The Board has determined he is independent under NASDAQ rules.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees / Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preformed Line Products Company | Vice President, Research, Engineering & Manufacturing (oversaw R&E, manufacturing, Global Sourcing, IP) | Through Dec 2020 | Led engineering/manufacturing; contributed significantly to company success |
| Preformed Line Products Company | Director of Research & Engineering; Director of International Operations; Lab Supervisor; Project Engineer; Lab Technician | 1978–2020 | Built deep operations/technology expertise; institutional knowledge |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees / Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| IEEE | Member; standards contributor (e.g., damper testing, OPGW, ADSS) | Since 1990 | Wrote standards; industry influence |
| CIGRE | Member; convenor of task forces | Since 1989 | Led task forces; authored papers |
| ASME | Member | ~40 years | Professional engagement |
| Public company boards | — | — | None disclosed |
Board Governance
- Independence: The Board determined Mr. Sunkle is independent under NASDAQ rules.
- Committee assignments: Nominating Committee member (committee formed April 1, 2024; Kestner Chair; members Gascoigne, Sunkle; Cross as advisor).
- Attendance and engagement: In 2024, Board met 5 times; Nominating met 7; all directors attended at least 75% of Board and committee meetings and attended last year’s annual meeting.
- Years of service on this board: Director since 2020; current term expires in 2026.
- Board leadership context: Board does not have a Lead Independent Director.
Fixed Compensation
Policy (non-employee directors):
- Annual cash retainer: $45,000; Annual equity award: approximately $75,000 in common shares (granted near year-end).
- Committee fee: $10,000 per committee; additional $10,000 for committee chair; Nominating Committee began March 2024 with prorated $7,500 per member and $7,500 for chair.
2024 Director Compensation – David C. Sunkle
| Component | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|
| Fees Earned or Paid in Cash | $52,500 |
| Stock Awards | $75,025 |
| All Other Compensation (consulting fees and medical benefits) | $54,592 |
| Total | $182,118 |
- Director stock ownership guidelines: Minimum 3× annual cash retainer; 5 years to achieve; sales restricted until achieved.
Performance Compensation
- Structure: PLPC does not disclose performance-based compensation for directors; equity is granted as an annual fixed-value common share award (not tied to explicit performance metrics).
| Performance Metric | Weight/Target | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Not applicable to director equity grants | — | No performance metrics disclosed for directors |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Committee/Interlock | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| None disclosed | — | — | No public company directorships disclosed for Mr. Sunkle. |
- Compensation Committee interlocks: Company disclosed no interlocks for 2024 (committee membership did not include Mr. Sunkle).
Expertise & Qualifications
- 42-year PLPC operating and engineering tenure; retired as VP overseeing R&E, manufacturing, sourcing, IP.
- Industry standard-setting and professional leadership through IEEE and CIGRE; technical credibility and domain expertise.
- Governance focus: Serves on Nominating Committee selecting independent nominees and enhancing board skill mix.
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | Ownership % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| David C. Sunkle | 4,959 | * (<1%) | Includes 408 shares held in the Company’s 401(k) plan; excludes unvested RSUs for executives only (not applicable to directors). |
Ownership policy context:
- Director ownership guideline of 3× cash retainer; individual compliance status for Mr. Sunkle not disclosed.
Insider Trades / Related Party Transactions
| Date | Transaction | Shares | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 13, 2024 | Company repurchased shares from Mr. Sunkle | 2,000 | $131.90 (30-day avg) | Approved under related-party policy by Audit Committee. |
Policy backdrop:
- Insider Trading Policy prohibits short sales and hedging (e.g., collars, swaps); pre-clearance and blackout windows apply.
Governance Assessment
Strengths
- Independent director with deep, directly relevant technical and operational expertise; long tenure at PLPC enhances oversight on engineering/manufacturing issues.
- Active committee role (Nominating) aligns with board refreshment and independence processes; committee met 7 times in 2024, indicating engagement.
- Attendance meets expectations (≥75% of combined meetings) and annual meeting participation.
- Director equity awards and ownership guidelines support alignment with shareholders.
Potential risks and monitoring items
- Related-party share repurchase (2,000 shares) and receipt of consulting fees/medical benefits (“All Other Compensation”) are noted; Board maintains independence designation, but these create optics to monitor for conflicts.
- Former senior executive (retired Dec 2020) now an independent director—transition timing can raise perceived independence concerns, though Board affirms independence.
- Broader board context includes family relationships among other directors and absence of a Lead Independent Director, which some investors view as governance risk; not specific to Mr. Sunkle but relevant to overall board checks and balances.
Red flags
- None material specific to Mr. Sunkle beyond the related-party share repurchase and consulting/benefit payments disclosed and approved per policy. Continue to track for recurrence or expansion.
Notes on data sources: All information above is sourced from PLPC’s 2025 DEF 14A proxy statement filed March 21, 2025.