Alexander Wynaendts
Uber TechnologiesAbout Alexander Wynaendts
Alexander Wynaendts (age 64) is an independent director at Uber Technologies, Inc., serving since March 2021 (Board tenure 4.0 years as of March 24, 2025). He is the former CEO and Chairman of Aegon NV and currently chairs the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Bank AG; he also serves as Chair of the Supervisory Board of Uber Payments BV, Uber’s EU payments subsidiary. Uber’s Board has determined he is independent under NYSE standards.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aegon NV | CEO and Chairman, Management & Executive Boards | 2008–2020 | Led global life insurance, pensions, asset management; oversaw international strategy |
| Aegon NV | Chief Operating Officer | 2007–2008 | Operational leadership prior to CEO role |
| Aegon NV | Executive Board Member (International Growth) | 2003–2007 | Drove international growth strategy |
| Aegon NV | Senior Vice President, Group Business Development | 1997–2003 | Corporate development and expansion |
| ABN AMRO Bank | Capital markets, asset management, corporate finance, private banking | 1984–1997 | Banking roles in Amsterdam and London |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deutsche Bank AG | Chair, Supervisory Board | Current | Board leadership at global bank |
| Air France-KLM SA | Director | Current | Board service at major airline group |
| Citigroup Inc. | Director | 2016–2021 | Prior U.S. bank board experience |
| Uber Payments BV (Uber subsidiary) | Chair, Supervisory Board | Since Mar-2021 | Oversees EU e-money/payments subsidiary; received €100,000 (~$104,231) in 2024 compensation |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee member; Uber states all Audit members qualify as “Audit Committee financial experts” and are financially literate under NYSE rules.
- Independence: Board determined Mr. Wynaendts is independent (NYSE standards).
- Attendance & engagement: In 2024, the Board met 9 times; Audit Committee met 6. Each director attended at least 75% of meetings for the Board and their committees; all current directors attended the 2024 Annual Meeting.
- Leadership structure: Independent Chairperson (Ronald Sugar); executive sessions (non-management) were held in 2024.
- Director commitments review: The Nominating & Governance Committee reviewed external board commitments in early 2025 and found no impairment of effectiveness for any director.
Fixed Compensation
| Component | 2024 Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cash retainers (base + committee) | $70,000 | Base $50,000 + Audit member $20,000 (no meeting fees) |
| Annual RSU grant (fair value reported) | $270,451 | Policy target $275,000; converted using April 2024 avg price; vests prior to 2025 Annual Meeting |
| Other compensation (Uber Payments BV board) | $104,231 | €100,000 converted at Dec-2024 FX; for Uber Payments BV Supervisory Board Chair role |
| Total 2024 director compensation | $444,682 | Sum of cash + stock + other |
- Director compensation policy (2024): Base $50,000; Audit Chair $40,000; Audit member $20,000; Annual RSU $275,000; no meeting fees; U.S.-based directors may elect RSU conversion/deferral for cash retainers.
- RSUs outstanding (director stock awards): Aggregate 3,782 shares for Mr. Wynaendts; no portion reported as vested and deferred.
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Interlock/Note |
|---|---|---|
| Deutsche Bank AG | Chair, Supervisory Board | Interlock: John Thain (Uber director) also on Deutsche Bank Supervisory Board, creating shared board network influence. |
| Air France-KLM SA | Director | Current external role. |
| Citigroup Inc. | Director | Former role (2016–2021). |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Financial and regulatory expertise built across Aegon and global banking; qualifies as Audit Committee financial expert.
- Global leadership experience (CEO and Chairman at Aegon; board leadership at Deutsche Bank; airline industry exposure at Air France-KLM).
- Payments and financial services oversight (Chair of Uber Payments BV Supervisory Board).
Equity Ownership
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Shares beneficially owned | 20,479 (less than 1% of outstanding) |
| RSUs outstanding (director awards) | 3,782; portion vested/deferred: none reported |
| Hedging/pledging policy | Prohibited for directors and employees |
| Ownership guidelines | Directors must hold 10x annual cash retainer within 5 years; all directors in compliance as of 2024 measurement date |
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: Audit Committee membership and “financial expert” status support strong oversight of financial reporting, controls, cybersecurity, privacy, and ethics; Audit reports to full Board regularly.
- Independence and attendance: Independent under NYSE standards; Board/committee attendance met minimum expectations; active engagement at Annual Meeting.
- Ownership alignment: Holds Uber stock; director ownership guidelines enforced; hedging/pledging banned—positive alignment signal.
- Compensation alignment: Mix emphasizes fixed cash retainer and time-based RSUs; no meeting fees; RSU conversion/deferral available but not indicated for Mr. Wynaendts; consistent with market norms.
- Potential conflicts and related-party exposure (flag for monitoring):
- Chair of Uber Payments BV (subsidiary) with €100,000 compensation—related-party role disclosed; Audit Committee oversees related-party transactions under written policy. This dual role is a governance consideration but transparently disclosed and compensated at ~€100k.
- Interlock with John Thain at Deutsche Bank AG may increase information flow and influence; not inherently negative but notable for network analysis.
- Compliance and risk indicators: Company reports overall Section 16(a) compliance in 2024 with exceptions unrelated to Mr. Wynaendts; no delinquent filings cited for him.
RED FLAGS to watch: Subsidiary board compensation (Uber Payments BV) as a related-party exposure; shared external board with another Uber director (Deutsche Bank AG) as a potential interlock/influence channel. Ensure continued Audit Committee oversight of related-party matters and monitor time commitments.