Alex Dichter
TripAdvisorAbout Alex Dichter
Alex Dichter was appointed to Tripadvisor’s Board on November 5, 2025; he is a non‑employee director with deep travel industry expertise built over two decades at McKinsey & Company, where he was a Senior Partner leading the Global Airline, Aviation & Travel Practice and the Asia‑Pacific Travel, Transport & Logistics Practice . He currently serves as Senior Advisor to KSL Capital Partners and SkyLink (a corporate travel AI startup), and chairs the Board of Hurtigruten Expeditions; he also sits on the Board of Tortuga Resorts (a KSL portfolio company) . He holds a Bachelor’s degree from Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University and an MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| McKinsey & Company | Senior Partner; leader of Global Airline, Aviation & Travel Practice; leader of Asia‑Pacific Travel, Transport & Logistics Practice | 1999–2025 | Led global airline/travel advisory; Asia‑Pacific TTL practice leadership |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes / Interlocks |
|---|---|---|---|
| KSL Capital Partners | Senior Advisor | 2025–present | PE advisor in hospitality/travel |
| SkyLink (corporate travel AI startup) | Senior Advisor | 2025–present | Travel tech exposure |
| Hurtigruten Expeditions | Chair of the Board | 2024–present | Expedition cruise operator |
| Tortuga Resorts (KSL portfolio) | Board Member | 2025–present | Hospitality asset; KSL affiliation |
Board Governance
- Independence status: Company states there are no transactions >$120,000 involving Mr. Dichter since the beginning of the last fiscal year, and no selection arrangements; he will receive standard non‑employee director compensation, with formal independence determinations performed by the Board following director elections per Nasdaq Rules .
- Committee assignments: Not disclosed at appointment; Tripadvisor currently maintains Audit, Compensation, Section 16, Executive, and Nominating & Corporate Governance Committees, chaired by independent directors, with lead independent director in place .
- Engagement practices: Board separates Chair and CEO roles; holds independent director sessions; all directors attended at least 75% of Board/committee meetings in 2024 (pre‑appointment baseline) .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount/Terms | Vesting/Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer (non‑employee directors) | $50,000 | Paid in equal quarterly installments |
| Audit Committee membership retainer | $20,000 per member (incl. Chair) | Annual |
| Compensation/Section 16 Committee membership retainer | $15,000 per member (incl. Chair) | Annual |
| Additional Chair retainers | +$10,000 for Audit Chair; +$10,000 for Compensation Chair | Annual |
| Travel/accommodation reimbursement | Reasonable expenses | As incurred |
Performance Compensation
| Component | Grant Value | Metrics | Vesting |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSU award upon election | $250,000 (value based on grant‑date closing price) | None (time‑based; no performance metrics) | Vest in full on first anniversary; accelerates upon Change in Control |
| Note | Mr. Dichter will receive standard non‑employee director compensation | — | As described above |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
- Current public company directorships: None disclosed for Mr. Dichter .
- Private/industry roles: Hurtigruten Expeditions (Chair), Tortuga Resorts (Director), KSL and SkyLink advisory roles .
- Potential interlocks/conflicts: KSL’s hospitality/travel portfolio and Hurtigruten’s operating footprint could intersect with Tripadvisor’s marketplace; company reports no related‑party transactions >$120,000 involving Mr. Dichter to date .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Global travel and aviation: Led McKinsey’s Global Airline, Aviation & Travel Practice; extensive advisory in Asia‑Pacific transport/logistics .
- Corporate governance and board leadership: Chair of Hurtigruten Expeditions; director at Tortuga Resorts .
- Education: B.S. Embry‑Riddle Aeronautical University; MBA Tuck School of Business (Dartmouth) .
- Strategic advisory: Senior Advisor to KSL Capital Partners and SkyLink in travel technology .
Equity Ownership
| Policy/Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Director stock ownership guidelines | Non‑employee directors expected to hold shares with value ≥3× annual cash retainer; counting common stock and after‑tax time‑based RSUs; compliance expected by the later of Jan 31, 2028 or five years after service start |
| Hedging/pledging | Company insider trading policy prohibits hedging and pledging of Company stock |
| Mr. Dichter’s ownership | Not disclosed at appointment; initial RSU grant expected per standard program |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths for board effectiveness: Deep domain expertise across airlines, travel marketplaces, and hospitality, adding practitioner insight into Tripadvisor’s core segments; prior chair/director experience supports committee deliberations and strategic oversight .
- Alignment and incentives: Standard director pay with time‑based RSUs and ownership guidelines promote alignment; hedging/pledging prohibitions reduce misalignment risk .
- Conflicts/related‑party exposure: No related‑party transactions >$120,000 reported; monitor potential future intersection with KSL portfolio companies or Hurtigruten commercial relationships; independence determination to be made in the Board’s annual process .
- Board governance context: Loss of controlled company status and addition of lead independent director enhance governance; committees chaired by independents with financial experts on Audit Committee .