John Lange
WEC ENERGY GROUPAbout John D. Lange
Independent director at WEC Energy Group since 2025; age 58. Retired in 2024 as global head of the Power, Utilities and Renewable Energy, Natural Resources, and Industrials Groups at Barclays, previously leading Global Power M&A at Lehman Brothers. He holds a BA from Bucknell University and an MBA from Duke (Fuqua). He joined WEC’s Board effective Jan. 1, 2025 following an October 2024 election by the Board .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barclays PLC | Global Head – Power, Utilities & Renewable Energy; Natural Resources; Industrials; Investment Banking Management Committee | Retired 2024 | Led advisory across M&A, capital markets; energy transition strategy work |
| Lehman Brothers | Led Global Power M&A Group | Prior to Barclays role | Strategic M&A leadership in utility sector |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) | Advisory Council member | Prior to WEC board | Industry-wide advisory participation |
| Edison Electric Institute (EEI) | Co-chair, Wall Street Advisory Group | Prior to WEC board | Sector advisory leadership |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Finance Committee member at WEC; appointed Jan. 16, 2025 .
- Independence: Board affirmatively determined Lange is independent under WEC’s standards (more stringent than NYSE) .
- Years of service: Director since 2025 .
- Attendance: No director-specific attendance disclosed yet for 2025.
- Other public company directorships: None .
- Election: Board increased seats and elected Lange effective Jan. 1, 2025 as part of succession planning .
Fixed Compensation
WEC’s standard non-management director program (unchanged for 2025):
| Compensation Element | Amount/Terms |
|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $120,000; paid $30,000 quarterly |
| Annual equity retainer | $160,000 in restricted stock; vests one year from grant |
| Independent Lead Director retainer | $30,000; paid quarterly |
| Committee chair fees | Audit & Oversight $20,000; Compensation $20,000; Corporate Governance $15,000; Finance $15,000; paid quarterly |
| Meeting fees | None |
| Deferred compensation | Optional deferral of cash fees into phantom stock or prime rate fund; paid in cash at election |
| 2025 program review | Compensation unchanged from 2024 levels |
| Non-Executive Chairman retainer | $187,500 (role-specific; not applicable to Lange) |
WEC disclosed that Lange will be compensated under the standard non-employee director program starting Jan. 1, 2025 .
Performance Compensation
- Not applicable. WEC does not disclose performance-based pay (e.g., PSUs) or performance metrics for non-management director compensation; directors receive fixed cash retainers and time-vested restricted stock .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Committee/Role Details |
|---|---|---|
| None | — | WEC’s proxy lists no other public company boards for Lange |
Expertise & Qualifications
- 28 years in investment banking advising utilities/energy/industrials on strategy, M&A, financing, and energy transition positioning .
- Industry advisory roles at EPRI and EEI .
- Education: BA Bucknell; MBA Duke (Fuqua) .
- Brings deep capital markets and energy transition expertise to WEC’s Finance Committee .
Equity Ownership
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Shares beneficially owned | 1,693 (includes restricted stock; sole voting, no investment power until vesting) |
| Ownership as % of outstanding | Each director under 1%; group of 25 at ~0.50% |
| Pledged shares | None; pledging prohibited |
| Hedging | Prohibited for directors |
| Director stock ownership guideline | 5× annual cash retainer; compliance within 5 years of joining the Board |
| Deferred plan holdings | Eligible to defer cash fees; phantom stock units track WEC stock; paid in cash |
Governance Assessment
- Alignment: Equity retainer and 5× ownership guideline promote skin-in-the-game; hedging/pledging bans strengthen alignment .
- Independence & conflicts: Board confirmed independence; WEC reports no related-party transactions since Jan. 1, 2024. Prior banking affiliations (Barclays) do not present disclosed related-party exposure at WEC; Corporate Governance Committee oversees and reviews any potential related party situations .
- Board effectiveness signals: Finance Committee placement leverages sector/finance expertise; succession-driven appointment adds energy transition and capital markets depth. No attendance data yet, but governance processes (committee charters, independence screening, director questionnaires) indicate healthy oversight .
Potential red flags to monitor
- Any future commercial engagements between WEC and Barclays or related entities would need Corporate Governance Committee review; currently none disclosed .
- New director stock ownership progression versus 5× guideline over five years .
Appendix: Finance Committee Scope (context)
- Finance Committee reviews capital structure, dividend policy, risk management programs, consolidated financial plans and capital budget; authorized to approve corporate debt within Board limits. Lange appointed to Finance Committee Jan. 16, 2025 .