Elizabeth Centoni
WorkdayAbout Elizabeth Centoni
Elizabeth Centoni (age 60) is an Independent Director of Workday (WDAY), serving since 2024 and standing as a Class III director with a term expiring in 2027. She is Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Experience Officer at Cisco, with prior senior leadership roles spanning strategy, applications, and computing systems; she holds a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of Mumbai and an MBA from the University of San Francisco .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco, Inc. | EVP & Chief Customer Experience Officer | Mar 2024 – present | Customer-centric transformation; AI/technology insights |
| Cisco, Inc. | EVP, Chief Strategy Officer & GM of Applications | Mar 2020 – Mar 2024 | Corporate strategy; applications portfolio leadership |
| Cisco, Inc. | SVP & GM of Computing Systems | 2018 – Mar 2020 | Product leadership in computing systems |
| Cisco, Inc. | Senior engineering leadership roles | 2000 – 2018 | Engineering leadership progression |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz AG | Supervisory Board Member | Since Apr 2021 | Not disclosed |
| Ingersoll Rand Inc. | Director | 2018 – Mar 2023 | Not disclosed |
Board Governance
- Independence: Independent Director; member of the Compensation Committee (not Chair) .
- Board class and tenure: Class III; director since 2024; term expires 2027 .
- Committee structure: 100% independent committees; Lead Independent Director structure in place; executive sessions at each Board meeting; all directors attended the 2024 annual meeting .
| Committee | Role | FY2025 Meetings | Unanimous Written Consents |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compensation Committee | Member | 5 | 14 |
Fixed Compensation
| Component | FY2025 Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $0 (no cash compensation paid to non-employee directors) |
| Committee membership cash fees | $0 |
| Meeting fees | $0 |
Performance Compensation
Program design (equity-only; RSUs):
| Grant Type | Annual RSU Award ($) |
|---|---|
| Non-Employee Director | $320,000 |
| Non-Employee Chair of the Board | $50,000 |
| Vice Chair / Lead Independent Director | $50,000 |
| Chair of Audit Committee | $75,000 |
| Member of Audit Committee | $37,500 |
| Chair of other Committees | $50,000 |
| Member of other Committees | $25,000 |
Centoni-specific grants:
| Grant Date | Award Type | Shares | Grant Date Fair Value ($) | Vesting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/05/2024 | RSU (Initial appointment) | 2,862 | 751,847 | 25% on 12/05/2025; remaining vests in equal installments over the following 12 quarters, subject to service |
Performance metrics tied to director compensation:
| Metric Area | Disclosure |
|---|---|
| Performance metrics (revenue/EBITDA/TSR/ESG) | None disclosed for director equity; RSUs are time-based |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Relationship | Potential Interlock/Conflict |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz AG | Current public company board | None disclosed with WDAY |
| Ingersoll Rand Inc. | Prior public company board | None disclosed with WDAY |
| Cisco, Inc. | Current employer (EVP) | No related-party transactions disclosed involving Centoni; anti-related party oversight via Audit Committee policy |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Technology industry leadership and AI/customer experience expertise, adding fresh perspective aligned with Workday’s focus areas .
- Senior operational leadership; engineering background at Cisco since 2000 .
- Education: B.Sc. (Chemistry), University of Mumbai; MBA, University of San Francisco .
Equity Ownership
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership (Class A shares) as of 4/7/2025 | 0 | “—” in table; less than 1% voting power |
| Unvested RSUs as of 1/31/2025 | 2,862 | Market value $750,016 at $262.06 closing price |
| Ownership guidelines (Directors) | $600,000 | Phase-in periods apply to new directors |
| Hedging/Pledging | Prohibited | Anti-hedging and anti-pledging policy for directors |
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: Centoni strengthens Compensation Committee with enterprise software/customer experience expertise; committee independence affirmed; robust meeting cadence and written consents indicate active oversight .
- Independence & attendance: Independent Director; Workday maintains executive sessions and reported full director attendance at the 2024 annual meeting, signaling engagement; individual attendance rates are not disclosed .
- Incentives & alignment: Equity-only director pay with standardized RSU values and initial appointment grants tied to service-based vesting; no cash retainers or meeting fees; anti-hedging/pledging enhances alignment; director ownership guidelines at $600,000 with phase-in for new directors .
- Consultant independence: Semler Brossy engaged by the Compensation Committee to review director compensation against peers, supporting market alignment and governance rigor .
- Related-party and conflicts: No related-party transactions disclosed involving Centoni; Audit Committee oversees and pre-approves categories to mitigate conflicts; Workday disclosed other related-party items (e.g., Duffield-affiliated entities), but none implicate Centoni .
- RED FLAGS: None disclosed specific to Centoni. Monitoring considerations include time commitments given her Cisco executive role and Mercedes-Benz board seat, but Workday’s guidelines cap directors at three other public company boards absent committee approval; Centoni appears within limits and governance oversight is documented . Additionally, Workday prohibits hedging/pledging and does not provide tax gross-ups, reducing alignment and pay-structure risks .