William J. Doyle
WINTRUST FINANCIALAbout William J. Doyle
Independent director at Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC) since 2017; age 74 at the 2025 annual meeting; background as former President & CEO of Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (PotashCorp). Georgetown University graduate; retired as Chairman of Georgetown’s Board of Directors in July 2021. Serves on Finance and Nominating & Corporate Governance committees; classified as independent under Nasdaq standards. Attended >90% of Board and committee meetings in 2024.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan | President & CEO | 15 years; retired July 2015 | Led large, complex global organization; deep public company governance exposure |
| International Fertilizer Industry Association | President | Not disclosed | Led global industry trade association |
| Canpotex; International Plant Nutrition Institute | Board Member | Not disclosed | Industry network/market knowledge |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Georgetown University | Chairman, Board of Directors (retired) | Retired July 2021 | Alma mater; leadership of major academic board |
| Big Shoulders Fund (Chicago) | Board Member | Current | Education-focused nonprofit governance |
Board Governance
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Independence | Independent (Board determined; >86% of Board independent) |
| Current WTFC Committees | Finance; Nominating & Corporate Governance |
| Chair Roles | None disclosed |
| Attendance | Each director attended >90% of Board/committee meetings in 2024 (Board met 6 times) |
| Years of Service | Director since 2017 |
| Board Leadership | Independent Chairman (H. Patrick Hackett, Jr.); regular executive sessions at each Board and committee meeting |
| Retirement Policy | Directors not nominated if age ≥76 before election |
Fixed Compensation
| Year | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | Equity Election and Deferrals | All Other Compensation ($) | Total ($) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 180,000 | Elected to receive $180,000 in Common Stock; deferred units credited under the Directors Plan | 27,608 (dividends on deferred units) | 207,608 |
| 2023 | 155,300 | Elected to receive $155,300 in Common Stock; deferred units credited | 20,910 (dividends on deferred units) | 176,210 |
Program structure (non‑employee directors):
- Annual Board Fee Retainer: $160,000 (effective Jan 1, 2024)
- Annual Committee Fee Retainer: $10,000 per committee (excl. Executive Committee)
- Chair Fees: $25,000 per committee chair; Board Chair: $60,000
- Meeting fees: Generally eliminated; only if >6 Board meetings or >5 committee meetings/year
- Deferral: May take fees in stock and defer into Units; Units accrue dividend equivalents; cash deferrals accrue T‑Bill-based interest
Performance Compensation
| Element | Status |
|---|---|
| Stock options | None disclosed |
| Performance share units | None disclosed |
| Performance metrics tied to director pay | Not applicable – director pay is retainer/committee-based with optional stock/deferral |
Directors do not receive performance-based equity; alignment achieved via stock election and stock ownership guidelines.
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current public company boards | None disclosed for Doyle in WTFC proxy |
| Prior public/industry boards | PotashCorp (executive); Canpotex; International Plant Nutrition Institute; International Fertilizer Industry Association (President) |
| Compensation Committee interlocks | None reported for WTFC in FY2024 |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Large-cap CEO experience leading a complex, global enterprise (PotashCorp)
- Public company governance, regulatory, and operational oversight experience
- Education: Georgetown University; former Chair of Georgetown’s Board
- Committee fit at WTFC: Finance (capital/transactions) and Nominating (governance, board composition)
Equity Ownership
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Direct Common Stock | 131 shares |
| Deferred Stock Units (Director Plan) | 16,602 Units (as of Dec 31, 2024) |
| Total Ownership (shares + deferred) | 16,733 (less than 1%) |
| Pledging/Hedging | Prohibited by policy |
| Ownership Guidelines | 4x annual board retainer ($640,000 for 2024); all non-employee directors either meet or are on track within 4 years of joining |
| Section 16(a) compliance | Company reports all requirements satisfied for 2024 except one director (not Doyle) |
Governance Assessment
-
Strengths
- Independence affirmed; no related-person transactions identified since Jan 1, 2024; hedging/pledging prohibited, reducing alignment risks.
- High engagement: Board/committee attendance >90% in 2024; regular executive sessions and independent Chair structure support effective oversight.
- Alignment signals: 100% of 2024 director fees taken in stock; meaningful deferred unit balance with dividend accruals; robust ownership guidelines.
- Committee placement (Finance; Nominating) leverages prior large-company leadership for capital planning/governance processes.
- Shareholder support context favorable: Say‑on‑pay approval ~98% at prior meeting (speaks to broader governance environment).
-
Watch items / potential red flags
- Low direct share count (131 shares) with most ownership in deferred units; while aligned economically upon delivery, some investors prefer higher outright share ownership.
- Age 74 vs. retirement policy (no nomination if ≥76 at election) suggests limited remaining tenure runway, which may affect continuity planning for committee roles.
- Not a committee chair; board influence is via membership rather than leadership roles.
Overall view: Doyle brings seasoned public-company leadership and governance depth with good engagement and alignment (stock elections, deferred units, guidelines). No material conflicts or related-party issues are disclosed. Tenure horizon (age policy) and low direct-hold share count are modest considerations for long-term alignment optics.