John Burke
About John Burke
John P. Burke (age 63) has served as an independent director of Interface, Inc. since 2013. He is Chief Executive Officer of Trek Bicycle Corporation (since 1997) and brings executive leadership experience with emphasis on sustainability and innovation; he previously chaired the President’s Council on Physical Fitness & Sports and was a founding board member of the Bikes Belong Coalition . The Board has determined Mr. Burke is independent under Nasdaq standards .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trek Bicycle Corporation | Chief Executive Officer | 1997–present | Leads a global manufacturing company focused on sustainability; consumer sales expertise |
| President’s Council on Physical Fitness & Sports | Chairman | Not disclosed | National fitness/policy leadership |
| Bikes Belong Coalition | Founding Board Member | Not disclosed | Industry advocacy for cycling infrastructure and policy |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Public/Private | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trek Bicycle Corporation | Director | Private | Board member of Trek; no disclosed business with Interface |
| Non-profit/industry bodies | Director/Member | Non-profit | Bikes Belong Coalition; physical fitness leadership |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Nominating & Governance Committee member; not a chair .
- Independence: Board determined Burke (and most directors except the CEO and a former CEO) are independent .
- Attendance: Board met 4 times in 2024; all incumbent directors attended at least 75% of Board and applicable committee meetings; independent directors held two executive sessions .
- Board skills: Company skills matrix lists Burke with strengths in C‑Suite Executive Management, International Business, Strategy Development, Sales & Marketing, and Environmental Sustainability .
- ESG oversight: Nominating & Governance Committee monitors corporate governance and ESG matters significant to the Company .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | 2024 Amount | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Director Fee (Cash) | $80,000 | Standard outside director fee |
| Committee Membership Fee (Cash) | $7,500 | Applicable to Compensation, Nominating & Governance, Innovation & Sustainability; Burke serves on Nominating & Governance |
| Total Cash Fees (Burke) | $87,500 | Sum of annual + committee fee |
| All Other Compensation (Burke) | $357 | Dividends on restricted shares ($0.01 per share per quarter) |
Performance Compensation
Directors receive time-based restricted stock; no performance-based director metrics are disclosed. Awards vest over time; no options have been granted to directors in recent years .
| Equity Award Type | Grant Date | Shares Granted | Grant-Date Fair Value | Vesting | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted Stock (Burke) | 2024 | 7,015 shares | $113,783 ($16.22 per share) | Time-based (unvested at year-end 2024) | Dividends of $0.01 per share paid on restricted stock |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Ticker | Role | Committee Roles | Interlocks/Conflicts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trek Bicycle Corporation | Private | CEO and Director | Not disclosed | No related-party transactions with Interface disclosed |
| Public company boards | — | — | — | None disclosed for Burke |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Executive-level leadership in consumer manufacturing, sustainability, and innovation .
- Skills matrix: Executive Management, International Business, Strategy Development, Sales & Marketing, Environmental Sustainability .
- Governance/ESG engagement via Nominating & Governance Committee membership .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | Includes Restricted Shares | % of Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| John P. Burke | 80,118 | 7,015 restricted shares | Less than 1% |
Policies and alignment:
- Director stock ownership requirement: 2,000 unrestricted shares; all current directors have met the standard .
- Hedging and pledging: Company policy prohibits short sales, options/derivatives, hedging transactions, and pledging of Company securities by directors and officers .
Governance Assessment
- Alignment: Burke’s equity grant and ownership exceed the director guideline threshold, supporting alignment; dividends on time-based awards are modest and standard .
- Independence and engagement: Independent status, regular executive sessions, and ≥75% attendance support board effectiveness .
- Committee role: Service on Nominating & Governance aligns with his sustainability and strategy background; that committee oversees ESG and governance matters .
- Compensation structure: Mix of cash retainer plus annual restricted stock; no options; no meeting fees; structure favors long-term alignment without complex performance hurdles for directors .
- Conflicts/related-party exposure: No related-party transactions involving Burke disclosed; Company operates a formal policy requiring Audit Committee review of related-person transactions .
- RED FLAGS: None disclosed for Burke. Company-wide prohibitions on pledging/hedging reduce alignment risks; no compensation gross-ups or poison pill; clawback applies to executives, not directors .
Investor implications: Burke’s consumer-channel manufacturing leadership and sustainability orientation complement Interface’s strategy and ESG focus. His governance role and equity ownership, combined with independent status and attendance, are supportive of investor confidence, with no disclosed conflicts or pledging risks .