Nava Swersky Sofer
About Nava Swersky Sofer
Nava Swersky Sofer, age 59, has served as an independent director of Vishay Precision Group (VPG) since 2024 . She is a globally recognized strategic consultant and venture capitalist with deep expertise in innovation and technology commercialization; prior roles include Vice President at Novartis (then CIBA), President & CEO of Yissum (Hebrew University’s technology transfer), and venture capital partnerships in California and Israel; she holds a law degree from Tel Aviv University (1986) and an MBA from IMD (1990) .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novartis (then CIBA) | Vice President; senior management forum | 1991–1996 | Senior management experience in global pharma |
| Yissum – Hebrew University of Jerusalem Technology Transfer | President & CEO | 2005–2009 | Led IP commercialization for university IP |
| Concord Ventures; Columbine Ventures; Sanderling Ventures | Partner (VC) | 1995–2005 | Venture investing across tech/biotech |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brenmiller Energy | Board member (served) | Not disclosed | Listed among public/private boards |
| BioCancell Therapeutics | Board member (served) | Not disclosed | Listed among public/private boards |
| Israel Innovation Authority | Board member (served) | Not disclosed | Public-sector innovation governance |
| Praxis Spinal Cord Institute | Board member (served) | Not disclosed | Non-profit healthcare innovation |
Board Governance
- Independence: Board concluded Ms. Swersky Sofer qualifies as an independent director; all three core committees (Audit, Compensation, Nominating & Corporate Governance) are entirely independent .
- Committee assignments: Not assigned to Audit, Compensation, or Nominating & Corporate Governance in 2024 (new appointee) .
- Board activity: The Board met six times in 2024; each director attended ≥75% of Board/committee meetings during their service period in 2024; Ms. Swersky Sofer was appointed effective December 5, 2024 .
| Governance Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Independence status | Independent |
| 2024 committees | None (not listed as member or chair) |
| Board meetings (2024) | 6 |
| Attendance policy/outcome (2024) | Each director ≥75% during service period |
| Appointment effective date | December 5, 2024 (new director) |
Fixed Compensation
- Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan (NEDC): Annual Board retainer $50,000; Chairman retainer $110,000; Audit Chair $15,000; Compensation Chair $10,000; Nominating & Governance Chair $10,000; pro-rated for partial year; retainers paid quarterly in advance from annual meeting date .
| Component | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Board retainer (independent directors) | $50,000 | Quarterly, pro-rated if partial-year |
| Chairman retainer | $110,000 | Annual |
| Audit Committee chair fee | $15,000 | Annual |
| Compensation Committee chair fee | $10,000 | Annual |
| Nominating & Governance chair fee | $10,000 | Annual |
| Director Compensation (2024) | Fees Paid (Cash) | Stock Awards (Fair Value) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nava Swersky Sofer (appointed Dec 5, 2024) | $0 | $37,937 | $37,937 |
Performance Compensation
- Equity grants (RSUs): Non-employee directors elected at the 2024 annual meeting received RSUs worth $80,000; RSUs vest on the earlier of the next annual meeting or May 21, 2025, subject to continued service; directors appointed between annual meetings receive pro-rated RSUs vesting at the first annual meeting following grant .
- Performance metrics: RSU awards for directors are time-based; no performance metrics are disclosed for director equity awards .
| Award Type | Grant Value | Vesting | Performance Metrics |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSUs – standard annual grant | $80,000 (per director) | Earlier of next annual meeting or May 21, 2025; service-based | None disclosed (time-based vesting) |
| RSUs – appointed mid-year (Ms. Swersky Sofer) | $37,937 (fair value) | Vests at first annual meeting after grant; service-based | None disclosed (time-based vesting) |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
- Compensation Committee Interlocks: Proxy states no compensation committee member in 2024 was an officer/employee of VPG or an executive officer of another entity where a VPG executive serves on the board; Ms. Swersky Sofer was not on the Compensation Committee in 2024 .
- Interlocks/Conflicts: No interlocks involving Ms. Swersky Sofer are identified in the proxy excerpts reviewed; “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” section is part of the filing (Table of Contents), but no transaction involving her is disclosed in the retrieved sections .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Legal and business training: LL.B. Tel Aviv University (1986); MBA IMD Lausanne (1990) .
- Technology commercialization and venture capital: Led Yissum (university IP commercialization) and served as partner at multiple VC firms; board roles across public/private tech and energy organizations .
- Global industry experience: Senior management at Novartis (CIBA) and advisory to governments and financial institutions; lectures globally on innovation/entrepreneurship .
Equity Ownership
- Beneficial ownership (as of March 24, 2025): No common shares reported; 1,588 restricted stock units scheduled to vest within 60 days; options not reported; “Percent of class” indicated as “*” (de minimis per proxy table notation) .
| Holder | Common Shares | RSUs to Vest ≤60 Days | Options Exercisable ≤60 Days | Percent of Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nava Swersky Sofer | — | 1,588 | — | “*” (per proxy table) |
- Insider filings: One late Form 3 and one late Form 4 were filed due to administrative error (Section 16(a) delinquent reports disclosure) .
Governance Assessment
- Independence and committee posture: Independent; not placed on core committees in her first (partial) year, consistent with onboarding; all committees are independent which supports governance quality .
- Alignment and ownership: Initial compensation in 2024 was entirely equity ($37,937 RSU fair value) with no cash fees, indicating alignment via stock; however, current beneficial ownership shows only RSUs scheduled to vest and no common shares, suggesting limited “skin-in-the-game” at this early stage .
- Compensation structure signals: Board retainer and RSU grant levels increased YoY (retainer from $40,000 in 2023 to $50,000 in 2024; RSU grant from $70,000 to $80,000), modestly elevating director pay mix while retaining time-based vesting and no performance metrics for directors .
- RED FLAGS: Section 16(a) late filings (Form 3 and Form 4) due to administrative error—minor process lapse but disclosed; monitor future compliance and any updates to insider trading controls . No related-party transactions involving Ms. Swersky Sofer are identified in the reviewed proxy sections; the company maintains an Insider Trading Compliance Policy and publishes governance documents (positive governance hygiene) .