Shirley Lin
TE ConnectivityAbout Syaru Shirley Lin
Independent director of TE Connectivity (TEL) since 2022 (age 56), with a background spanning academia, public policy, and principal investing in Asia. She is a Research Professor at the University of Virginia’s Miller Center, a Nonresident Senior Fellow at Brookings, Adjunct Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and chairs the Center for Asia‑Pacific Resilience and Innovation (CAPRI). Her prior private‑sector tenure includes Managing Director/Partner in Goldman Sachs’ Principal Investment Area in Hong Kong. Core credentials: Asia-Pacific policy expertise, investment and governance experience, and global board service.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. | Managing Director & Partner, Principal Investment Area (Hong Kong) | 2000–2003 | Led and managed >30 investment professionals across APAC; prior roles included VP, PIA (1997–2000) and Associate, Corporate Finance (1994–1997). |
| University of Virginia (Miller Center) | Research Professor; previously Compton Visiting Professor | Research Professor since 2022; Visiting Professor since 2019 | Research and instruction in international and comparative political economy; policy engagement. |
| Center for Asia‑Pacific Resilience and Innovation (CAPRI) | Chair | Current | Nonprofit/think tank leadership in APAC policy. |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Virginia, Miller Center | Research Professor | Current | Research/teaching in international relations and political economy. |
| Brookings Institution | Nonresident Senior Fellow | Current | Foreign Policy Program. |
| Chinese University of Hong Kong | Adjunct Professor | Current | Academic appointment. |
| CAPRI | Chair | Current | Leadership of APAC-focused policy organization. |
Board Governance
- Independence: The Board determined Prof. Lin is independent under TE’s guidelines and NYSE standards.
- Committee assignments: Nominating, Governance & Compliance (NGCC) member; Joint Committee on Cybersecurity member; no chair roles.
- Board/committee activity levels (FY2024): Board met 8 times; Audit 9, MDCC 6, NGCC 4, Cyber 2.
- Attendance: All incumbent directors attended >75% of Board and committee meetings; all 11 then‑serving directors attended the 2024 AGM.
- Executive sessions: Non‑management directors met in executive session four times in FY2024.
Fixed Compensation (Non‑Employee Director – FY2024)
| Component | Amount (USD) | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $100,000 | Standard non‑employee director cash retainer. |
| Committee membership fees | $0 | No fees for NGCC or Cyber membership; only certain chair/member roles (e.g., Audit) carry fees. |
| Other (charitable matching) | $10,000 | Company matching gift contributed on her behalf. |
Performance Compensation (Equity) – FY2024
| Grant date | Instrument | Shares granted | Determination methodology | Grant date fair value (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/12/2023 | Shares (annual director grant) | 1,525 | Number of shares set using 20‑day average price of $131.10; fair value measured at $135.50 on grant date. | $206,638 |
- Notes: Directors received full‑value share grants (not options/PSUs); no performance metrics tied to director equity; equity supports alignment via ownership.
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Exchange/Type | Role | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Langham Hospitality Investments | Public company | Director | Current |
| MediaTek, Inc. | Public company | Director | Current |
| Swire Pacific | Public company | Director | Prior 5 years |
| Mercuries Life Insurance | Public company | Director | Prior 5 years |
- Independence preserved: Board reaffirmed her independence; no related‑party transactions requiring disclosure in FY2024.
Expertise & Qualifications
- Board skills matrix: Finance & accounting, global public policy, global business management, M&A; brings executive leadership and deep APAC experience.
- Academic/professional credentials: Harvard A.B.; University of Hong Kong master’s and doctorate; extensive APAC investment and policy expertise.
Equity Ownership
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Shares beneficially owned (as of Jan 13, 2025) | 3,720 |
| Ownership as % outstanding | <1% (no director ≥1% per disclosure) |
| Director ownership guidelines | 5x annual cash retainer ($500,000) within 5 years |
| Compliance status | On track to meet guideline (noted for Prof. Lin) |
| Hedging/pledging policy | Hedging and pledging of TE securities prohibited for directors |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent director with high attendance, meaningful Cyber/NGCC service, and differentiated APAC policy and investment perspective supportive of risk oversight and strategy.
- Alignment: Cash/equity mix consistent with peers; equity grants in shares foster ownership; director stock ownership guidelines (5x cash retainer) drive alignment; she is on track.
- Conflicts/related parties: None disclosed for FY2024; Board has formal related‑party review policy; no transactions required disclosure.
- Risk controls: Participation on Cyber committee supports oversight of cyber risks; TE prohibits director hedging/pledging; robust independence framework.
RED FLAGS: None identified in disclosures (no related‑party transactions; independence affirmed; attendance above threshold; compensation structure standard for TEL).