Cynthia Trudell
RENAISSANCERE HOLDINGSAbout Cynthia Trudell
Independent director of RenaissanceRe Holdings Ltd. (RNR), age 71, serving since 2019, with deep human capital, executive leadership, and global operations experience from senior roles at PepsiCo, General Motors, and Brunswick; currently a member of RNR’s Corporate Governance and Human Capital Management Committee (compensation committee). Education is not disclosed in the proxy. She is classified as independent under NYSE and RNR guidelines and met required board attendance thresholds in 2024. Her tenure and background align with board oversight of executive compensation, succession, and ESG matters.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| PepsiCo, Inc. | EVP & Chief Human Resources Officer | 2011–Sep 2017 | Led global human capital strategy and executive succession |
| PepsiCo, Inc. | SVP & Chief Personnel Officer | 2007–2011 | Senior HR leadership across global operations |
| Saturn Corporation (GM) | Chairwoman & President | Within 1981–2001 | Operating leadership of auto division |
| IBC Vehicles (GM) | President | Within 1981–2001 | General management of manufacturing operations |
| Sea Ray Group (Brunswick) | President | 2001–2006 | Ran marine products business |
| General Motors Corporation | Various executive operating/general management roles | 1981–2001 | Global operations leadership |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Tire Corporation | Director; Chair of Compensation; Governance Committee member | 2019–present | Compensation (Chair); Governance |
| Defense Business Board (U.S. DoD) | Member | 2013–2019 | Advisory to DoD leadership |
| ISS A/S | Director | 2015–2023 | Not disclosed |
| The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc. | Director | 2008–2010 | Not disclosed |
| Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce | Director | 2005–2008 | Not disclosed |
| PepsiCo, Inc. | Director | 2000–2007 | Not disclosed |
Board Governance
- Committee assignment: Corporate Governance & Human Capital Management (compensation committee); committee members are Henry Klehm III (Chair), David Bushnell, and Cynthia Trudell.
- Independence: Board determined Trudell is independent; RNR’s principal committees are fully independent.
- Attendance and engagement: In 2024, the Board and each principal committee met 4 times; a Standing Committee met once. Each director attended ≥75% of applicable meetings; all directors attended the May 13, 2024 AGM in Bermuda. Quarterly executive sessions held for the Board and committees.
- Governance scope: The Governance & Human Capital Committee oversees executive/director pay, succession, DEI/CSR, ESG, governance structure/processes, related-party reviews, and shareholder proposals.
- Board structure: Classified board led by independent Non-Executive Chair; regular board and committee effectiveness assessments, including third-party reviews; orientation and continuing education provided.
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount/Detail | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $125,000 | 2024 | Non-chair director retainer; unchanged vs. 2023 |
| Committee chair fees | N/A for Trudell | 2024 | Chair retainers are $35,000 for Audit, Governance & Human Capital, IRMC; Trudell not a chair |
| Equity grant (RSUs/restricted shares) | 738 restricted shares granted; grant-date fair value $164,832 | Mar 1, 2024 | Vests in three equal annual installments beginning Mar 1, 2025; dividends paid currently on time-vested restricted shares |
| Total director compensation | $289,832 | 2024 | Cash $125,000; Stock $164,832 |
| Meeting fees | None disclosed | 2024 | Program emphasizes retainer + equity; reimbursements for reasonable expenses |
Performance Compensation
| Metric | Director Pay Linkage | Disclosure |
|---|---|---|
| Performance-based metrics (TSR/ROE/etc.) | None for non-employee directors | Director equity awards are time-vested restricted shares; no director performance share metrics disclosed |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Interlock/Transaction | Governance Note |
|---|---|---|
| Canadian Tire Corporation | None disclosed with RNR | Trudell chairs Canadian Tire Compensation Committee; RNR discloses committee independence |
| Compensation interlocks | None | RNR discloses no compensation committee interlocks or insider participation in 2024 |
| Related-party transactions | None involving Trudell | Related-party reviews are overseen by Governance & Human Capital; disclosed relationships do not involve Trudell |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Human capital management, executive leadership/strategy, and global operations; prior CHRO role at PepsiCo and senior operating roles at GM/Brunswick.
- Committee-level governance expertise on compensation and board governance at Canadian Tire.
Equity Ownership
| Item | Amount | As-of Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total beneficial ownership (common shares) | 5,956 | Mar 5, 2025 | Includes unvested director restricted shares per footnote |
| Ownership % of shares outstanding | ~0.012% | Mar 5, 2025 | 5,956 / 49,004,247 outstanding shares |
| Unvested restricted shares (director grants) | 1,439 | Mar 5, 2025 | Included in beneficial ownership; subject to service-based vesting |
| Options (exercisable/unexercisable) | None | Dec 31, 2024 | RNR reports no outstanding options company-wide at year-end |
| Ownership guidelines | 5x annual cash retainer; anti-hedging/anti-pledging | Ongoing | All independent directors met guidelines except new directors Jeworrek/Mester; Trudell satisfied ownership requirements |
Governance Assessment
- Committee role: Trudell serves on the Governance & Human Capital (compensation) committee overseeing pay, succession, ESG/DEI, and related-party reviews—central to investor alignment and risk oversight.
- Independence and attendance: Independent status affirmed; met attendance thresholds; participates in quarterly executive sessions—supportive of effective oversight.
- Compensation alignment: Director pay mix favors equity via time-vested restricted shares, aligning interests with shareholders; no performance-based director awards, reducing incentive misalignment risk.
- Ownership alignment: Meets director ownership guidelines; pledging/hedging prohibited—positive alignment signal.
- Potential conflicts: No related-party transactions or compensation interlocks involving Trudell; Governance & Human Capital Committee uses Mercer as independent consultant and assessed independence despite other Marsh McLennan subsidiaries providing brokerage services—monitoring in place.
- Broader governance signals: 2024 say-on-pay support was 72% (below historical average), prompting board outreach and pay design changes (primarily for executives); while not specific to Trudell, it indicates active board responsiveness to shareholder feedback.
RED FLAGS: None specific to Trudell disclosed. Monitor compensation consultant independence (Mercer) given broader Marsh McLennan relationships; committee reported no conflicts.