Joseph D. Wilkins Jr.
QuidelOrthoAbout Joseph D. Wilkins Jr.
Independent director at QuidelOrtho (QDEL) since 2021; age 63. Background spans >30 years in diagnostics and healthcare with executive roles at Danaher–Beckman Coulter (~28 years), Quest Diagnostics (commercial operations), and Atlantic Health System (SVP, Chief Transformation & Innovation Officer, 2016–2018). Education includes a B.A. and M.B.A. in healthcare finance (Argosy University); board-certified in healthcare management and Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Health System | SVP & Chief Transformation and Innovation Officer | Oct 2016 – Oct 2018 | Led transformation and innovation at integrated healthcare delivery system |
| Quest Diagnostics | Led commercial operations teams | N/D | Commercial operations leadership |
| Danaher–Beckman Coulter | Various executive leadership roles | ~28 years | Diagnostics operating leadership |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| THEO Transformation Advisory | Senior Advisor | Since Oct 2022 | Advisory work |
| Providence Health and Services | Director | N/D | One of the largest U.S. healthcare systems |
| TGR Foundation | Board Member | N/D | Foundation founded by Tiger Woods |
Board Governance
- Committee memberships: Compensation Committee; Nominating & Governance Committee .
- Chair roles: None .
- Independence: Independent director (Nasdaq rules) .
- Attendance: All directors attended ≥75% of Board/committee meetings; Board average >97% in 2024; Board held 11 meetings; committee meetings held in 2024: Audit 8, Compensation 4, Nominating & Governance 5, Science & Technology 4 .
- Executive sessions: Non-employee directors meet regularly in executive session .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual Board Cash Retainer (program) | $75,000 |
| Compensation Committee chair fee | N/A (member, not chair) |
| Nominating & Governance Committee chair fee | N/A (member, not chair) |
| Fees Earned or Paid in Cash (FY2024) | $73,750 |
| Deferred Board Fees RSUs election (FY2024) | None (N/A) |
Notes:
- Committee chair fees: Audit $25,000; Compensation $20,000; Nominating & Governance $15,000; Science & Technology $15,000; not applicable to Wilkins as a non-chair .
Performance Compensation
| Grant Date | Award Type | Shares Granted | Grant-Date Fair Value | Vesting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 22, 2024 | Time-based RSUs | 4,929 | $210,000 | Vest on first anniversary of grant date |
Notes:
- Directors receive time-based RSUs; no director performance metrics (e.g., TSR PSUs) disclosed for non-employee directors .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company/Organization | Type | Role | Potential Interlock/Conflict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public company boards | Public | None | None disclosed |
| Providence Health and Services | Non-profit/health system | Director | No Item 404 related-party transactions disclosed |
| TGR Foundation | Non-profit | Board Member | No Item 404 related-party transactions disclosed |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Diagnostics and healthcare operating leadership (>30 years) .
- Corporate governance and compensation oversight (Compensation Committee member) .
- ESG and governance oversight (Nominating & Governance Committee member) .
- Board-certified in healthcare management; Fellow of ACHE .
Equity Ownership
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership (as of March 24, 2025) | 11,506 shares; <1% of outstanding |
| RSUs held (including Covered Fees RSUs and Director Premium RSUs), at Dec 29, 2024 | 4,929 shares |
| Stock options outstanding (director) | None listed for Wilkins; options disclosed only for Buechler, Strobeck, Widder |
| Director stock ownership guideline | 5x annual cash retainer; all directors meet or are in compliance (retention until compliant) |
| Hedging/pledging policy | Company policy prohibits hedging and pledging |
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: Wilkins contributes deep diagnostics and healthcare operations experience; active roles on Compensation and Nominating & Governance Committees support pay-for-performance oversight, succession planning, and ESG governance .
- Independence & attendance: Independent status and strong board-wide attendance (>97% average) bolster investor confidence; no chair roles minimize concentration of influence .
- Compensation alignment: Director pay structure is balanced (cash $75k; equity $210k time-based RSUs) and straightforward; Wilkins did not elect fee deferrals in 2024, and received standard annual grant; no director performance-based equity reduces complexity but limits explicit performance linkage at the board level .
- Ownership alignment: Beneficial ownership of 11,506 shares with RSUs held; directors subject to 5x retainer guideline and company prohibits hedging/pledging, supporting alignment; Wilkins is either meeting or in compliance with guidelines .
- Conflicts/related-party exposure: Proxy discloses no Item 404 related-party transactions for Wilkins; Compensation Committee interlocks disclosure states no material interests in transactions requiring disclosure for Wilkins .
- Shareholder signals: 2024 say-on-pay approval exceeded 94%, indicating broad support for executive pay oversight by the Compensation Committee (where Wilkins serves) .
- Risk indicators: Company identified material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting in 2024 (revenue/rebates systems reliance, deferred tax asset realizability), and changed auditor to KPMG in 2025; while not director-specific, sustained remediation and audit oversight are critical focus areas for board committees .
Red flags:
- Internal control material weaknesses in 2024 require continued oversight; not directly attributable to Wilkins but relevant to board risk governance .
- No hedging/pledging data at individual director level beyond policy; beneficial ownership table shows no pledging disclosures, but ongoing monitoring remains prudent .
Positive signals:
- Independent status, strong attendance, and committee service on Compensation and Nominating & Governance signal robust governance participation .
- Clear, simple director pay structure; no related-party transactions involving Wilkins .
Note: The proxy’s “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports” disclosed late Form 4 filings only for two executives (Hodges, Klein) and none for Wilkins in 2024, supporting administrative compliance .