Philippe Guillemot
SONOCO PRODUCTSAbout Philippe Guillemot
Philippe Guillemot (age 65) is an independent director of Sonoco Products Company, serving since 2017. He is Chairman and CEO of Vallourec SA and previously held senior executive roles at Elior Group, Alcatel‑Lucent, Europcar Group, Areva T&D, Faurecia, Valeo, and Michelin; he brings global manufacturing, operations, and governance experience, with particular depth in Europe, which aligns with Sonoco’s expanded footprint post‑Eviosys acquisition . He is currently independent under NYSE standards, with committee memberships on Employee and Public Responsibility and Financial Policy .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vallourec SA | Chairman & Chief Executive Officer | 2022–present | Public company leadership; energy/industrial tubing expertise |
| Elior Group SA | Chief Executive Officer & Director | 2017–2022 | Large-scale services operations and turnaround exposure |
| Alcatel‑Lucent SA | Chief Operating Officer | 2013–2016 | Global telecom operations (pre‑Nokia acquisition) |
| Europcar Group | Chief Executive Officer & Director | 2010–2012 | Fleet/logistics operations leadership |
| Areva Transmission & Distribution | Chairman & Chief Executive Officer | Not disclosed | Grid equipment operations; industrial governance |
| Faurecia SA | Group Executive Vice President | Not disclosed | Automotive systems; supply chain/operations |
| Valeo | Group Vice President | Not disclosed | Automotive technology and manufacturing |
| Michelin Group | Various global executive positions | Not disclosed | Global manufacturing, multi‑geography leadership |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vallourec SA (Euronext Paris: VK) | Director (and CEO/Chairman) | Current | Only current public company directorship disclosed |
| Constellium NV | Director | 2013–2019 | Prior public board service |
| Visteon | Director | 2010–2013 | Prior public board service |
| Europcar Group | Director | 2010–2012 | Prior public board service |
Board Governance
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Independence | Independent director (NYSE standards) |
| Board Tenure | Director since 2017 |
| Committee Assignments | Employee and Public Responsibility (member); Financial Policy (member) |
| Committee Meeting Counts (2024) | Employee & Public Responsibility: 4; Financial Policy: 4 |
| Board & Committee Attendance | All directors attended ≥75% of aggregate Board/committee meetings; Board held 11 meetings in 2024 |
| Lead Independent Director | Robert R. Hill Jr. |
| Executive Sessions | Lead Director presides; structure described in guidelines |
Fixed Compensation
| Component | 2024 Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fees Earned or Paid in Cash | $110,000 | Non‑employee director quarterly cash retainer ($27,500 per quarter) |
| Stock Awards (Deferred Stock Equivalent Units) | $145,000 | Quarterly equity retainer ($36,250 per quarter), mandatorily deferred |
| Total | $255,000 | Aggregate 2024 director compensation |
| Retainer Structure (General) | Cash: $27,500/qtr; Equity: $36,250/qtr | Applies to non‑employee directors; equity deferrals accrue dividend equivalents, distributed post‑service |
| Chair/Lead Retainers (General) | Audit Chair: $6,250/qtr; Comp Chair: $5,000/qtr; CG/Nom, Financial Policy, E&PR Chairs: $4,375/qtr; Lead Independent: $7,500/qtr; Chairman: $37,500/qtr | Guillemot is not a chair; no chair fees disclosed for him |
Performance Compensation
Directors do not receive performance‑based bonuses. Equity compensation is delivered via quarterly deferred stock equivalent units without performance conditions; deferral elections allow distributions over 1/3/5 years post‑service. Guillemot’s 2024 mandatory deferrals totaled $145,000, with a one‑year payout schedule election .
| Equity Detail | Dates/Amounts | Terms |
|---|---|---|
| Quarterly Equity Grants | $36,250 on Jan 2, Apr 1, Jul 1, Oct 1, 2024 | Deferred stock equivalent units; accrue dividend equivalents; settled starting six months after Board service ends; payout over 1/3/5 years (Guillemot: 1 year) |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Interlocks | No compensation committee interlocks or insider participation reported for Sonoco’s committee members in 2024; Guillemot not on Compensation Committee |
| Related Party Transactions | Policy requires approval of transactions >$120,000 involving related persons; only disclosed relationship is CEO Coker and Chairman Haley (family link). No Guillemot‑related transactions disclosed |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Global executive leadership across manufacturing, telecom, automotive, services; governance experience at multiple public companies .
- European market experience beneficial post Eviosys acquisition, aligning with Sonoco’s increased European footprint .
Equity Ownership
| Measure | Amount | Date/Valuation | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beneficial Shares Owned | 0 | As of Feb 7, 2025 | No direct beneficial ownership reported |
| Deferred Compensation Units | 23,380 units | As of Feb 7, 2025 | Non‑voting; issued post‑service |
| Fees Deferred into Stock Equivalents (year‑end units) | 22,625 units | As of Dec 31, 2024 | Valued at $1,105,220 using $48.85 closing price |
| Stock Ownership Guidelines | Compliant | Targets: 3k/5k/8k shares by service years; deferred equivalents count toward compliance |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent status; strong global operating pedigree; service on sustainability/employee oversight (E&PR) and capital structure/financial risk (Financial Policy) committees enhances board effectiveness in ESG and financial governance areas . Director compensation tilted to equity via deferred stock units, reinforcing alignment; anti‑hedging/anti‑pledging and clawback policies further support governance quality .
- Engagement: Board met 11 times in 2024; all directors met ≥75% attendance; Guillemot’s committee membership aligns with Sonoco’s strategic shifts (Eviosys acquisition, portfolio reshaping) requiring robust oversight of sustainability and financial policy .
- Potential watch‑items: Dual CEO/Chair role at Vallourec implies significant external time commitments; monitor for overboarding risk if additional roles emerge. No related‑party transactions or pledging/hedging concerns disclosed for Guillemot; environment includes family relationship between Sonoco’s CEO and Chairman, a broader governance sensitivity mitigated by established Lead Director and independence majority . Say‑on‑pay support was strong (96.5% in 2024), suggesting positive shareholder sentiment toward compensation governance .