Julie Brandt
UNITED RENTALSAbout Julie Brandt
Julie M. Heuer Brandt (age 50) joined United Rentals’ Board on January 17, 2025 and is an independent director serving on the Strategy Committee. She is Corporate Vice President and President, Global Commercial & Field Operations at Johnson Controls (since January 2025), and previously led Johnson Controls’ Building Solutions North America division (April 2023–January 2025). She holds an MBA and a bachelor’s degree in International Business and Marketing from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business, with extensive global operating experience and full P&L leadership from her nearly three decades at Otis Elevator Company, including Vice President & General Manager (January 2020–April 2023) .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson Controls | Corporate VP & President, Global Commercial & Field Operations | Jan 2025–present | Drives strategic vision for field delivery and operations, focused on sustained growth and enhanced operating model |
| Johnson Controls | President, Building Solutions North America | Apr 2023–Jan 2025 | Responsible for strategy and execution across sales, design, install and service for North American direct-channel business |
| Otis Elevator Company | Vice President & General Manager (full P&L responsibility, US) | Jan 2020–Apr 2023 | Built high-performing organizations across North America, Latin America, Europe and APAC; deep experience in large-scale distributed businesses |
External Roles
| Company/Organization | Role | Status | Committees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other public company boards | None | — | — |
Board Governance
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Independence | Independent director under NYSE and URI categorical standards |
| Director since | January 17, 2025 |
| Committees | Strategy Committee member |
| Attendance (board-wide) | 2024: Board met 7 times; all then-current directors attended 100% of their meetings except one director at 88% (Brandt not yet a director in 2024) |
| Lead Independent Director | Not applicable to Brandt; Gracia Martore will serve as Lead Independent Director beginning May 8, 2025 |
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer (director) | $120,000 | Non-management directors (excl. Chair) |
| Lead Independent Director fee | $40,000 | Incremental to retainer |
| Committee Chair fees | Audit: $25,000; Compensation: $20,000; N&CG: $20,000; Strategy: $15,000 | Applies if serving as Chair (Brandt is a member, not Chair) |
| Annual equity (RSUs) | $175,059 | Fully vested RSUs granted to non-management directors in 2024; 254 RSUs at $689.21 grant-date price; settlement typically in 3 years (Brandt joined in 2025, received no 2024 comp) |
| Director comp structure change | N&CG Chair retainer increased from $15,000 to $20,000 effective May 9, 2024 | All other Chair comp and Board annual cash unchanged vs. 2023 |
| Deferred compensation | Directors may elect to defer fees into money market or fully vested RSUs; further deferral of RSU settlement for at least five years permitted (409A compliant) | Plan available to non-management directors |
| Stock ownership guidelines | Chair: 2x cash retainer; other directors: 5x cash retainer; compliance within 5 years; no hedging/pledging | All non-management directors were in compliance as of Dec. 31, 2024 (Brandt joined 2025) |
Performance Compensation
| Performance-based pay elements for directors | Status |
|---|---|
| Annual bonus/PSUs/Options tied to metrics | Not applicable for non-management directors; director equity grants are fully vested RSUs with deferred settlement, and cash retainers are fixed |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Entity | Relationship | Exposure | Board’s Independence Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Johnson Controls | Brandt is Corporate VP & President, Global Commercial & Field Operations | URI pays fees to and generates revenue from Johnson Controls in ordinary course | Neither URI fees to Johnson Controls nor URI revenue from Johnson Controls exceeded 2% of Johnson Controls’ consolidated gross revenues in 2024; transactions viewed as arm’s-length and immaterial; independence maintained |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Leadership and operational expertise running large, networked, growth businesses; deep construction industry knowledge; global experience across multiple continents .
- P&L ownership with track record in building high-performing organizations and managing large-scale distributed operations .
- Education: MBA and bachelor’s in International Business & Marketing, Indiana University Kelley School of Business .
Equity Ownership
| Type | Amount | As of Date | Percent of Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership (common shares) | 76 | March 14, 2025 | <1% |
Stock ownership guidelines: five times annual cash retainer required within five years of first becoming a director; anti-hedging and anti-pledging policies apply .
Governance Assessment
- Independence and committee fit: Brandt is independent and placed on the Strategy Committee, aligning with her operating and P&L background; no compensation committee interlocks disclosed for 2024 .
- Alignment and ownership: Beneficial ownership disclosed; director equity grants are fully vested RSUs with deferred settlement, and robust stock ownership guidelines require 5x cash retainer, supporting alignment without hedging/pledging .
- Conflicts and related-party exposure: Employment at Johnson Controls assessed for independence; URI’s transactions with Johnson Controls were immaterial (<2% of JCI revenues) and arm’s-length; independence affirmed—a mitigated conflict risk .
- Engagement and attendance: Board-wide attendance was strong in 2024; Brandt joined in 2025, so individual attendance data is not yet disclosed. Board conducts regular executive sessions and annual third-party-facilitated evaluations, supporting effectiveness .
- RED FLAGS: None identified in proxy regarding pledging/hedging, related-party transactions beyond immaterial ordinary-course dealings, or director overboarding (N&CG confirmed compliance) .