Constantin Beier
About Constantin H. Beier
Independent director of W. P. Carey since 2022; age 53. Beier is Chief Operating Officer for Aon plc’s Strategy & Technology Group (since June 2023), previously Global Chief Data Officer (2021–2023) and on Aon’s Executive Leadership Team since July 2020; earlier roles include COO/CFO of Aon Inpoint and CEO of Aon Centre for Innovation & Analytics Dublin, and he began his career as an attorney at Hengeler Mueller (Germany) . He serves on WPC’s Compensation and Nominating & Corporate Governance Committees; the Board affirms his independence and reports each director (including Beier) attended at least 75% of board/committee meetings in 2024 .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aon plc | COO, Strategy & Technology Group | Jun 2023–present | Executive leadership in data/technology strategy and operations |
| Aon plc | Global Chief Data Officer; Exec Leadership Team member | Oct 2021–Jun 2023; since Jul 2020 | Enterprise data governance/analytics, global oversight |
| Aon plc | Global Head, Business Development (Data & Analytics) | 2019–Sep 2021 | Growth for data & analytics segment |
| Aon plc | Managing Director, Strategic Programs | 2017–2019 | Company-wide strategic initiatives |
| Aon Inpoint (Aon plc) | COO and CFO | 2015–2017 | Operating/financial leadership |
| Aon Centre for Innovation & Analytics (Dublin) | Chief Executive Officer | 2013–2015 | Built analytics capabilities |
| Hengeler Mueller (Germany) | Attorney-at-law | 2001–2003 | Legal practice; corporate/commercial law |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aon Russell Ltd. | Director | Since Jan 2024 | Non-public company board |
| Aon Norway AS | Member | Since 2016 | Non-public company board |
| Schule Schloss Salem | Member & Treasurer, Supervisory Board | Since 2010 | Non-profit/academic board |
| Aon Singapore Centre for Innovation, Strategy and Management PTE. Ltd. | Member (former) | 2013–May 2023 | Former non-public board |
| Aon Centre for Innovation and Analytics Ltd. Dublin | Member (former) | 2012–Dec 2019 | Former non-public board |
| Public company directorships | — | — | None |
Board Governance
- Committees: Compensation Committee (member), Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee (member) .
- Committee meeting cadence (2024): Compensation 6 meetings; Nominating & Corporate Governance 4 meetings .
- Independence: Board determined Beier is independent under NYSE and SEC rules; all standing committees comprise independent directors .
- Attendance: Board held 4 regular meetings in 2024; each director attended at least 75% of applicable board and committee meetings .
- Overboarding: WPC highlights compliance with over-boarding limits among directors .
Fixed Compensation
| Year | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | Stock Awards ($) | Total ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 112,500 | 174,980 | 287,480 |
| 2023 | 108,750 | 174,983 | 283,733 |
Director compensation structure (2024):
- Annual cash retainer $100,000; annual equity award $175,000; committee member retainer $10,000; Chair retainers: Audit $25,000, Compensation $25,000, NCG $15,000, Investment $10,000; Non-Executive Chair $125,000; directors may elect to receive stock in lieu of cash and may defer into Director RSUs .
Performance Compensation
| Component | Terms | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Director RSAs/RSUs | Annual grant valued at $175,000; vests in full one year after grant | RSAs carry voting rights; RSUs do not; dividends on unvested RSAs/RSUs accrue and are paid upon vest or end of deferral; no options or performance conditions for directors . |
| Deferral elections | Cash retainer can be taken in stock and/or deferred; annual equity can be deferred into Director RSUs | Under W. P. Carey Deferred Compensation Program for Non-Employee Directors (effective Jan 1, 2024) . |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
- Other current public company boards: None .
- Compensation Committee interlocks: Company discloses no interlocks or insider participation for 2024; Beier served on the Compensation Committee during 2024 .
- Potential interlocks/conflicts with WPC: None disclosed involving Beier; WPC related-party transactions disclosed were limited to relationships with CESH and NLOP (advisory fees), not involving Beier .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Board skills: Strategic Planning; International Business; Risk Management & Oversight; Information Technology & Cybersecurity; Human Capital Management; Legal & Compliance .
- Professional background: Two decades of international experience in enterprise risk management, data analytics, operations; legal training as attorney in Germany .
Equity Ownership
| Item | Amount / Status |
|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership (as of Mar 24, 2025) | 6,674 shares; less than 1% of class |
| Unvested Director RSAs/RSUs (as of Dec 31, 2024) | 3,203 (unvested Director RSAs outstanding) |
| Hedging/Pledging | Company prohibits hedging; pledging limited under strict policy; no pledged shares disclosed for Beier (pledging footnote identifies only CEO) |
| Stock ownership guidelines | Non-executive directors required to hold 5x annual cash retainer; 5-year phase-in; Board highlights compliance and notes directors within phase-in period are on track; Beier’s phase-in runs from his 2022 appointment . |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent status; active committee roles on Compensation and NCG (oversight of pay, governance and ESG); company-level disclosure confirms all directors met ≥75% attendance; no related-party transactions involving Beier; over-boarding limits observed; robust hedging/pledging restrictions and clawback/recoupment policies bolster alignment .
- Alignment: Director pay mix combines cash retainer with meaningful annual equity that vests after one year; ability to elect stock in lieu of cash and to defer enhances long-term alignment; Beier held 6,674 shares with additional unvested director equity outstanding as of year-end 2024 .
- Potential risks/red flags: None evident in filings specific to Beier—no public-company interlocks, no pledging disclosed, independence affirmed; monitor ongoing senior role at Aon for any future related-party exposure, though none is disclosed and independence has been reaffirmed by the Board .
- Shareholder sentiment context: Say-on-Pay support exceeded 90% at the 2024 Annual Meeting, indicating broad acceptance of WPC’s pay design and governance framework (context for Compensation Committee oversight where Beier serves) .