Robert Aiken
Yum China HoldingsAbout Robert B. Aiken
Robert B. Aiken, age 62, has served on Yum China’s Board since May 2024 and is currently Executive Chairman of Monterey Bay Herb Co. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration (1985) and a J.D. (1989) from Georgetown University, and brings deep leadership, operations, and logistics experience in the restaurant and food sectors . The Board determined in 2025 that Mr. Aiken is not independent due to an immediate family relationship: his brother‑in‑law is a principal at KPMG LLP in the U.S., part of the same global organization as the Company’s independent auditors, though he does not work on Yum China and is in a different country office .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monterey Bay Herb Co. | Executive Chairman | 2021–present | Bulk herb and spice supplier leadership |
| Diversified Foodservice Supply | Chief Executive Officer | 2017–2020 | Turnaround and operations leadership in foodservice supply |
| Essendant Inc. | President & Chief Executive Officer | 2015–2017 | Wholesale distribution leadership |
| Feeding America | Chief Executive Officer | 2012–2015 | Non‑profit leadership in hunger relief |
| Bolder Foods | Chief Executive Officer | 2010–2012 | Private equity portfolio operating role |
| U.S. Foodservice (US Foods) | EVP Sales/Marketing & Supply Chain; President & COO; President & CEO | 2004–2010 | Progressive operating leadership in large food distributor |
| Specialty Foods Corp. (incl. Metz Baking Co.) | Various roles incl. CEO of Metz Baking | 1994–2000 | Food manufacturing operations |
| Milwaukee Sign Co. | President & Principal | 2000–2004 | General management |
| Sidley & Austin; Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati | Business Lawyer | Early career | Legal and transactional experience |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (NASDAQ: RRGB) | Independent Director | 2010–2017 | Compensation, Nominating & Governance, Finance committees |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Member, Food Safety and Sustainability (FSS) Committee; the FSS Committee held 2 meetings in 2024 .
- Independence: Not independent under NYSE and HK Listing Rules due to brother‑in‑law at KPMG LLP (same global org as Company’s auditors), with mitigating factors noted (no involvement in Company audit; different country office) .
- Board/committee activity: In 2024, Board met 7 times and committees met 27 times; overall attendance was 99% (Board policy expects attendance at all Board/committee meetings, and all incumbents met at least 75%) .
- Governance structure: Independent Board Chairman; standing committees are Audit, Compensation, Nominating & Governance, and Food Safety & Sustainability .
- Related party oversight: Audit Committee reviews/approves related person transactions >$120,000; none were identified for 2024 through the proxy date .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Retainer (non‑employee directors) | $315,000 | Payable in common stock or up to 50% in cash; cycle June 1, 2024–May 31, 2025 . |
| Committee Member Retainers | Audit: $17,500; Compensation: $12,500; Nominating & Governance: $10,000; FSS: $10,000 | Annual stock retainers; Aiken is an FSS member . |
| Chairman Retainer | $225,000 | Additional annual stock retainer for Board Chair (not applicable to Aiken) . |
| 2024 Director Compensation – Robert B. Aiken | Cash: $0; Stock Awards: $325,000; Total: $325,000 | First elected May 2024; stock awards reflect retainer + committee member retainer . |
Performance Compensation
| Category | Terms |
|---|---|
| Performance‑based elements | None disclosed for non‑employee directors; compensation is primarily stock‑based retainers without stated performance metrics, options, PSUs, or meeting fees . |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
- Public company directorships: Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. (2010–2017), with committee roles as noted above .
- Auditor affiliation (family): Brother‑in‑law at KPMG LLP in the U.S., same global network as Company’s auditors; Board concluded non‑independence for Aiken, while noting lack of involvement in Company audit and different office/country .
- Related person transactions: None identified for the 2024 period .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Education: B.S. in Business Administration (1985), J.D. (1989), Georgetown University .
- Core competencies: Restaurant/foodservice operations, logistics, supply chain leadership; broad CEO experience in distribution and food sectors; prior legal training .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | Percent of Shares Outstanding | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert B. Aiken | 12,088 | <1% | As of March 25, 2025; total shares outstanding 374,996,934 . |
| Hedging/Pledging Policy | Prohibited | — | Directors and officers may not hedge or pledge Company stock . |
| Director Stock Ownership Guidelines | Not mandatory | — | Directors expected to own “meaningful” shares; share retention policy prohibits selling director‑comp shares until at least 12 months post‑departure . |
Governance Assessment
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Strengths
- Extensive operating experience across foodservice supply chains and restaurant ecosystems, valuable for FSS oversight and supply chain risk perspectives .
- Director compensation emphasis on equity aligns interests with shareholders; strong share retention and anti‑hedging/pledging policies enhance alignment and risk control .
- Robust Board activity and attendance (99% in 2024) and clear committee remits (including related party oversight by Audit) support governance effectiveness .
-
Watch items / RED FLAGS
- Non‑independence determination due to auditor network family tie is a governance sensitivity; while mitigated (no audit involvement, different office/country), it may constrain committee placements and perceptions of auditor independence .
- Directors lack formal stock ownership minimums (guidelines not mandatory), relying on equity retainers and retention policy; investors may prefer explicit ownership thresholds for stronger alignment .
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Implications
- Expect Aiken’s contributions to focus on operational resilience (food safety, sustainability, supply chain), consistent with his FSS committee assignment and background .
- Independence status suggests careful monitoring of any auditor‑related votes/approvals and continued transparency on related‑party matters; current disclosures indicate no related person transactions for the period .