Eric Branderiz
Director at SYM
Board
About Eric Branderiz
Eric Branderiz (age 60) was appointed to Symbotic’s Board of Directors effective May 14, 2025. He is a California CPA with a Bachelor’s in Business Commerce (Accounting) from the University of Alberta and brings deep finance, accounting, and public-company controls experience from high-growth industrial technology and manufacturing organizations . His tenure at SYM began mid‑FY25; he signed Symbotic’s August 6, 2025 S‑8 filing as a Director, confirming status as of that date .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enphase Energy, Inc. | EVP & Chief Financial Officer; Advisor post-CFO | CFO: Jun 2018–Feb 2022; Advisor through Jun 2022 | Led finance through high growth; public-company controls |
| Tesla, Inc. | Vice President, Corporate Controller & Chief Accounting Officer | Oct 2016–Mar 2018 | Oversaw SEC reporting and internal controls |
| SunPower Corporation | Senior roles incl. SVP, Corporate Controller & CAO | 2010–2016 | Manufacturing finance; accounting leadership |
| Knowledge Learning Corp.; Spansion, Inc.; AMD | Senior finance and accounting roles | Pre‑2010 | Semiconductor and tech-sector finance |
| Ernst & Young | Early career | Not disclosed | Assurance and accounting foundations |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Since | Committees/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cognizant Technology Solutions Corporation | Director | 2023 | Committee assignments not disclosed |
| Fortive Corporation | Director | 2023 | Committee assignments not disclosed |
Board Governance
- Board composition and changes: Symbotic’s board was seven members as of the Jan 17, 2025 proxy; Branderiz was added May 14, 2025 (expanding to eight), and Andrew Ross was added Aug 26, 2025 (expanding to nine) .
- Leadership structure: CEO Richard B. Cohen serves as Chair; no lead independent director designated. All committee chairs can hold executive sessions without management; the board retains flexibility to separate roles in future .
- Independence: As of Jan 17, 2025, all directors except the CEO were determined independent under SEC/Nasdaq rules; Branderiz serves as a non‑employee director appointed under the director compensation program .
- Committee memberships: As of Jan 17, 2025—Audit (Chair: Charles Kane; members Rollin Ford, Vikas Parekh), Compensation (Chair: Todd Krasnow; members Merline Saintil, Daniela Rus), Nominating & Corporate Governance (Chair: Merline Saintil; members Rollin Ford, Vikas Parekh) . The proxy notes committee appointments are reviewed after the annual meeting; Branderiz’s committee assignment was not disclosed in the appointment 8‑K .
- Attendance baseline: In FY2024 the full board met ten times; each then‑current director attended ≥75% of aggregate board and committee meetings. Branderiz joined after FY2024 and will be covered in the next proxy .
- Governance dynamics: Walmart holds rights to recommend an independent director and has board observer rights; multiple Cohen family observers may attend in a non‑voting capacity—important for board influence monitoring .
Fixed Compensation (Director)
| Component | FY2024 Amount | FY2025 Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Board retainer – Member | $50,000 | $50,000 |
| Board retainer – Chair | $100,000 | $130,000 |
| Audit Committee – Member | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| Audit Committee – Chair | $20,000 | $25,000 |
| Compensation Committee – Member | $7,500 | $7,500 |
| Compensation Committee – Chair | $15,000 | $20,000 |
| Nominating & Corporate Governance – Member | $5,000 | $5,000 |
| Nominating & Corporate Governance – Chair | $10,000 | $10,000 |
| Annual RSU grant (time-based; vests by next annual meeting/1 year) | $175,000 grant-date fair value | $265,000 grant-date fair value |
| Initial appointment RSUs (time-based; 3-year vest) | $400,000 grant-date fair value | $400,000 grant-date fair value |
- Branderiz will be compensated under the non‑employee director program; his appointment 8‑K did not disclose specific grant timing/size. Form 3 filed May 15, 2025 reported no beneficial ownership at that time .
Performance Compensation
- Directors at Symbotic receive time‑based RSUs; there are no performance‑linked metrics or option awards for directors disclosed in the program .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Relationship to SYM | Potential Interlock/Conflict |
|---|---|---|
| Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. (CTSH) | No related‑party transactions disclosed in Branderiz’s 8‑K | None disclosed |
| Fortive Corporation (FTV) | No related‑party transactions disclosed in Branderiz’s 8‑K | None disclosed |
Expertise & Qualifications
- California CPA; seasoned public-company finance executive (CFO, Controller, CAO) with strong SEC reporting, internal controls, and manufacturing finance depth .
- Boards at Cognizant and Fortive add cross‑industry perspective and governance experience .
- Fit-for-purpose in audit oversight and capital allocation for SYM’s scale-up and JV/contract structures (e.g., Walmart/GreenBox), consistent with board needs disclosed in proxy and filings .
Equity Ownership
| As-of | Security | Reported Beneficial Ownership | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 15, 2025 (Form 3) | All classes/derivatives | None reported | Filed one day after appointment; no RSUs shown |
| Policy baseline | Hedging/pledging by insiders | Prohibited by SYM policy | Short sales, derivatives, margin, pledging all prohibited |
- No Form 4 transactions located as of Nov 20, 2025; ongoing ownership will be disclosed in future Section 16 filings (none found) and in the next proxy [Search: no Form 4].
Governance Assessment
-
Positives
- Deep finance and controls background (CFO/CAO) strengthens audit quality, risk oversight, and internal control rigor—valuable after SYM’s FY2024 interim restatements and clawback policy administration .
- Non‑employee status and lack of related‑party ties per appointment disclosure support independence and alignment with shareholders .
- Director compensation mix emphasizes equity (annual RSU; initial RSU) and modest cash retainers, aligning with long‑term value without performance gaming .
-
Watch items / potential red flags
- Combined CEO–Chair structure and absence of a lead independent director reduce independent counterbalance; continued monitoring of executive sessions and committee independence is prudent .
- Walmart recommendation and observer rights create influential stakeholder dynamics; ensure robust independence in audit and nom/gov processes .
- Multiple public boards (Cognizant, Fortive, SYM) increase time commitments; monitor attendance in the next proxy to confirm engagement and effectiveness .
Insider Filings
| Filing | Date | Key Details |
|---|---|---|
| Form 3 (Initial Beneficial Ownership) | May 15, 2025 | Reported no beneficial ownership; POA filed naming company officers as attorneys‑in‑fact |
| S‑8 Signature Page | Aug 6, 2025 | Signed as Director on registration statement |
Notes on Committee Assignments and Independence
- Committee assignment for Branderiz was not disclosed in the May 2025 appointment 8‑K; proxy indicates assignments are reviewed post‑annual meeting .
- Independence: Board determined all non‑employee directors were independent as of Jan 17, 2025; Branderiz’s 8‑K reflects non‑employee status and standard indemnification .
Related Party Transactions
- Branderiz’s appointment 8‑K did not disclose any direct or indirect material interest under Item 404(a); indemnification agreement referenced to standard company form .
Director Compensation Awards (FY2024 context for peers)
| Name | Cash Fees (FY2024) | Equity Awards (FY2024 grant-date fair value) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rollin Ford | $65,000 | $166,176 | $231,176 |
| Charles Kane | $70,000 | $166,176 | $236,176 |
| Todd Krasnow | $65,000 | $166,176 | $231,176 |
| Daniela Rus | $50,000 | $166,176 | $226,176 |
| Merline Saintil | $67,500 | $166,176 | $233,676 |
This baseline indicates typical director compensation levels and equity alignment at SYM prior to Branderiz’s appointment.
Board Structure and Committees (as of Jan 17, 2025)
- Audit: Chair Charles Kane; Members Rollin Ford, Vikas Parekh; 9 meetings; Kane deemed “audit committee financial expert” .
- Compensation: Chair Todd Krasnow; Members Merline Saintil, Daniela Rus; 4 meetings; independent consultant (Pearl Meyer) engaged; independence affirmed .
- Nominating & Corporate Governance: Chair Merline Saintil; Members Rollin Ford, Vikas Parekh; 2 meetings; independence affirmed .
Overall implication: Branderiz’s profile aligns strongly with audit oversight and financial reporting governance. The next proxy should clarify committee placement, attendance, and ownership alignment (initial RSUs and annual grant cadence). The board’s combined chair/CEO structure and Walmart observer dynamics warrant continued monitoring for independent oversight effectiveness .