Alejandro Capparelli
About Alejandro Capparelli
Independent director since 2022 (age 56). Co-Chair of SMP’s Strategic Planning Committee, and member of Audit, Compensation & Management Development, and Nominating & Corporate Governance Committees. Senior executive in industrial automation and digital transformation at Rockwell Automation; BS in Electrical Engineering (Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata) and postgraduate Business Management & Strategy (University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee) .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rockwell Automation | Vice President & General Manager, Lifecycle Head of Regions | Current | Led strategy execution across smart manufacturing, IoT/Industry 4.0; risk management and financial management |
| Rockwell Automation | President, Americas Region | Oct 2020–Jan 2022 | Oversaw business development and strategic growth initiatives in U.S., Canada, Mexico, Caribbean, Central & South America |
| Rockwell Automation | President, Latin America Region | 2016–Sep 2020 | Drove market expansion and connected operations, analytics, cybersecurity, automation programs |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technology & Services Industry Association (TSIA) | Industrial Equipment Advisory Board Member | Current | Advisory role on service/technology in industrial equipment |
| Rockwell Automation (S&P 500) | Senior executive (VP & GM Lifecycle Head of Regions) | Current | External employment; not disclosed as a director role |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Audit (Member), Compensation & Management Development (Member), Nominating & Corporate Governance (Member), Strategic Planning (Co‑Chair) .
- Independence: Board determined Capparelli (and all directors except CEO Eric Sills and COO James Burke) are independent under NYSE and SEC rules .
- Attendance: Board held 13 meetings in 2024; all directors attended at least 75% of Board and committee meetings; all directors attended the 2024 Annual Meeting .
- Committee activity: Audit (4 meetings), Compensation (4), Governance (3), Strategic Planning (2). All committees comprised solely of independent directors .
- Executive sessions: Independent directors meet in executive session at each Board meeting, chaired by the Presiding Independent Director .
Fixed Compensation
| Component (2024) | Detail | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | Non‑employee director retainer | $90,000 |
| Committee chair fee | Strategic Planning Committee Co‑Chair | $15,000 |
| Total cash fees | Retainer + Co‑Chair fee | $105,000 |
| Equity retainer (common stock) | Annual equity retainer | $65,000 |
| Restricted stock grant | 1,000 shares; grant-date FMV $27.16/share | $27,160 |
| Total equity awards | Equity retainer + RS award | $92,160 |
| Total director compensation (2024) | Cash + equity | $197,160 |
- 2025 changes: Cash retainer increased to $95,000; equity retainer and 1,000-share RS award replaced with annual restricted stock equal to $125,000; non‑employee director cap (cash plus equity awards) set at $700,000 per fiscal year .
Performance Compensation
Directors did not receive options and equity grants are time-based; however, as Compensation Committee member, Capparelli oversees executive pay metrics and plan design:
| Program | Metric | Weight | 2024 Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short‑term cash (financial) | Adjusted EPS YoY improvement | 75% of financial portion | Contributed to 142.4% achievement of financial portion |
| Short‑term cash (financial) | Adjusted Free Cash Flow Conversion | 25% of financial portion | Contributed to 142.4% achievement of financial portion |
| Short‑term cash (MBO) | Strategy, sustainability, engagement, operations | 30% of total STIP | Achieved 98.6% of target |
| Performance shares (2024 grant) | Avg ROIC (3‑yr) | 67% | Target structure (0–200% payout) |
| Performance shares (2024 grant) | Avg Organic Sales Growth (3‑yr) | 33% | Target structure (0–200% payout) |
| Performance shares (2021 cycle) | Cumulative pre‑tax earnings (ex‑specials) | N/A | 68.3% payout; issued Nov 2024 |
| Performance shares (2022 cycle) | Cumulative pre‑tax earnings (ex‑specials) | N/A | 50.7% payout; issuing Nov 2025 (subject to vesting) |
Additional governance features applicable to equity awards:
- No repricing of options/SARs; minimum 1‑year vesting; clawback for incentive compensation per NYSE Rule 10D‑1; no excise tax gross‑ups .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current public company boards | None disclosed |
| Private/academic/non‑profit boards | TSIA Industrial Equipment Advisory Board |
| Interlocks/conflicts | No related‑party transactions disclosed for Capparelli in 2024; related‑party items involved other executives/family members and were reviewed/approved by Audit/Governance Committees |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Industrial automation, smart manufacturing, IoT/Industry 4.0; international market leadership across the Americas; strategy development and execution, risk and financial management, operations, marketing, and customer support .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Beneficial Shares | % of Class | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alejandro C. Capparelli | 10,564 | <1% | As of April 4, 2025 |
| Outstanding unvested RS (director) | 1,000 shares | — | As of Dec 31, 2024 |
| Hedging/Pledging | Prohibited | — | Applies to directors and employees |
| Director stock ownership guidelines | In place with post‑vesting holding periods | — | Applies to independent directors |
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: Independent director with multi‑committee engagement and Strategic Planning Co‑Chair role; strong technical and international background aligned with SMP’s long‑term strategy .
- Alignment: Mix of cash ($105k) and equity ($92k) ensures ownership exposure; RS grants and director ownership guidelines with post‑vest holding support long‑term alignment; hedging/pledging prohibited .
- Independence & conflicts: Board affirmed independence; no Capparelli‑specific related‑party transactions disclosed; committee structures and policies mitigate risk (clawback, no repricing, director award cap) .
- Attendance & engagement: Board and committee attendance above thresholds; active committee meeting cadence signals ongoing oversight .
- Shareholder signals: Say‑on‑pay approval at 99% in 2024 indicates high investor support for compensation governance overseen by the Compensation Committee .
RED FLAGS: None disclosed specific to Capparelli. No hedging/pledging permitted; no related‑party ties reported; attendance thresholds met; director equity capped and subject to clawback .