Oluwatoyin Umesiri
About Oluwatoyin Umesiri
Independent Class I Director at Westrock Coffee Company (term expires 2026), director since 2022; age 42. Founder and CEO of Nazaru LLC (since 2017), with prior roles in portfolio management at Walmart (2013–2017) and senior analyst roles at Whirlpool (2006–2012). Education: B.S. in Mathematical Sciences (Computer Science focus), University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria; M.S. in Information Systems, Central Michigan University. Certified SAP expert with extensive ERP and global supply chain implementation experience; appointed to the Illinois District Export Council in 2022 and served as Ambassador for the Intra‑African Trade Fair by Afreximbank and the African Union .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whirlpool Corporation | Senior Analyst roles | 2006–2012 | Led ERP and global supply chain implementations as a Certified SAP technologist |
| Walmart Inc. | Portfolio Management roles | 2013–2017 | Portfolio management; enterprise systems and supply chain exposure |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nazaru LLC | Founder & CEO | 2017–present | Business services advancing trade with Africa |
| Illinois District Export Council | Member (U.S. Dept. of Commerce appointment) | Appointed 2022 | Trade/export advisory engagement |
| Afreximbank/African Union | Ambassador, Intra‑African Trade Fair | Not specified | Pan‑African trade advocacy |
Board Governance
- Independence: Board determined Umesiri is independent under Nasdaq rules; Audit & Finance, Compensation, and Nominating & Corporate Governance Committees are comprised of independent directors .
- Committee assignment: Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee member; the committee met three times in 2024 .
- Attendance: All directors attended at least 75% of board and committee meetings; board met seven times in 2024; all directors attended the 2024 annual meeting .
- Leadership structure: Separate Chair (Joe T. Ford) and CEO (Scott T. Ford); Lead Independent Director (R. Brad Martin); independent Vice Chairman (Kenneth M. Parent) appointed November 5, 2024 to enhance agenda review and oversight .
- Executive sessions: Non‑management and independent directors meet periodically in executive session .
- Board structure: Classified board with declassification starting at the 2026 annual meeting and fully declassified by 2028 .
- Hedging/pledging: Company prohibits hedging and unapproved pledging; currently no executive officer or director has pledged shares .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | 2024 Amount (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $60,000 | Non‑employee director cash retainer |
| Annual equity retainer (RSUs) | $89,492 | RSUs vest on one‑year anniversary of grant date |
| Committee chair fees | $0 | Nominating & Corporate Governance chair fee is $15,000; Umesiri is a member, not chair |
| Total 2024 director comp | $149,492 | Sum of cash and stock awards |
| Unvested RSUs outstanding | 8,523 units | Scheduled to vest June 6, 2025, subject to continued service |
| Deferred comp election | Available for equity fees only | Directors may elect to defer receipt of equity fees; cash cannot be deferred |
Performance Compensation
| Metric | 2024 | Structure |
|---|---|---|
| Performance‑conditioned director equity | None disclosed | Annual equity retainer in RSUs vests time‑based; no director performance metrics disclosed |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Category | Disclosure |
|---|---|
| Current public company boards | None disclosed for Umesiri |
| Committee roles on other public boards | None disclosed |
| Private/non‑profit/academic boards | Illinois District Export Council (member); Afreximbank/AU IATF Ambassador |
| Interlocks with WEST competitors/suppliers/customers | None disclosed |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Global supply chain and ERP technology implementation expertise as a Certified SAP technologist; extensive implementation across manufacturing and retail sectors .
- International trade expertise through Nazaru LLC and federal export council appointment; Africa trade advocacy via Afreximbank/AU Ambassador roles .
- Educational grounding in computer science and information systems supports data‑driven governance and operational oversight .
Equity Ownership
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership (common + as‑converted preferred within 60 days) | 5,717 shares | Less than 1% voting power |
| Unvested RSUs | 8,523 units | Vest on June 6, 2025 |
| Pledged shares | None | Company reports no directors with pledged shares currently |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent director with Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee role; board maintains independent leadership via Lead Director and Vice Chairman; periodic executive sessions; hedging/pledging restrictions; full board declassification by 2028 which enhances accountability .
- Alignment: Director equity retainer exceeds cash retainer in 2024, providing equity linkage; however, personal beneficial ownership is modest (5,717 shares), suggesting limited “skin‑in‑the‑game” beyond annual grants .
- Attendance/engagement: Company disclosed at least 75% attendance across directors and committee meetings; her committee met three times in 2024; all directors attended the annual meeting—adequate engagement signal .
- Conflicts/related‑party exposure: No related‑party transactions disclosed involving Umesiri. Broader board environment includes related‑party convertible notes (to entities affiliated with the Ford family and significant holders) and company payments for aircraft usage to Westrock Group at cost; these are reviewed and approved by the Audit & Finance Committee under the Related Party Transactions Policy, but represent ongoing governance sensitivity for investors .
- Shareholder voice: As an emerging growth company, WEST does not conduct say‑on‑pay or say‑on‑frequency votes—reduces direct shareholder feedback on compensation, elevating the importance of committee rigor and disclosure .