Autodesk announces appointment of two new independent directors
Autodesk (NASDAQ: ADSK) has announced the appointment of two new independent directors to its Board: John Cahill, former Chairman and CEO of Kraft Foods, and Ram Krishnan, Executive Vice President and COO of Emerson, effective immediately. The appointments follow a comprehensive search process. Additionally, Lorrie Norrington will not seek re-election at the 2025 Annual General Meeting.
Cahill brings extensive leadership experience, having overseen the Kraft-Heinz merger and served in key roles at Pepsi Bottling Group. Krishnan contributes significant industrial technology and software expertise, particularly in complex lifecycle automation. These appointments are part of Autodesk's ongoing board refreshment, with five new independent directors added in the last six years. The company plans to reduce the board size by its 2025 Annual General Meeting.
Autodesk (NASDAQ: ADSK) ha annunciato la nomina di due nuovi direttori indipendenti nel suo Consiglio: John Cahill, ex Presidente e CEO di Kraft Foods, e Ram Krishnan, Vice Presidente Esecutivo e COO di Emerson, con effetto immediato. Le nomine seguono un processo di ricerca approfondito. Inoltre, Lorrie Norrington non si candiderà per la rielezione all'Assemblea Generale Annuale del 2025.
Cahill porta con sé una vasta esperienza nella leadership, avendo supervisionato la fusione Kraft-Heinz e ricoperto ruoli chiave presso il Pepsi Bottling Group. Krishnan contribuisce con una significativa esperienza nella tecnologia industriale e nel software, in particolare nell'automazione dei complessi cicli di vita. Queste nomine sono parte del continuo rinnovamento del consiglio di Autodesk, con cinque nuovi direttori indipendenti aggiunti negli ultimi sei anni. L'azienda prevede di ridurre la dimensione del consiglio entro l'Assemblea Generale Annuale del 2025.
Autodesk (NASDAQ: ADSK) ha anunciado el nombramiento de dos nuevos directores independientes en su Junta: John Cahill, ex Presidente y CEO de Kraft Foods, y Ram Krishnan, Vicepresidente Ejecutivo y COO de Emerson, con efecto inmediato. Los nombramientos siguen a un proceso de búsqueda exhaustivo. Además, Lorrie Norrington no buscará la reelección en la Junta General Anual de 2025.
Cahill aporta una amplia experiencia en liderazgo, habiendo supervisado la fusión Kraft-Heinz y desempeñado roles clave en Pepsi Bottling Group. Krishnan contribuye con una importante experiencia en tecnología industrial y software, particularmente en la automatización de ciclos de vida complejos. Estos nombramientos son parte del continuo refresco de la junta de Autodesk, con cinco nuevos directores independientes añadidos en los últimos seis años. La empresa planea reducir el tamaño de la junta para la Junta General Anual de 2025.
오토데스크 (NASDAQ: ADSK)는 존 캐힐 (Kraft Foods의 전 회장 겸 CEO)와 램 크리쉬난 (Emerson의 수석 부사장 겸 COO)을 새롭게 독립 이사로 임명했다고 발표했습니다. 이 임명은 즉시 효력이 발생하며, 포괄적인 검색 과정을 거쳤습니다. 또한, 로리 노링턴은 2025년 연례 총회에서 재선에 도전하지 않기로 했습니다.
캐힐은 Kraft-Heinz 합병을 감독한 경력을 포함해 폭넓은 리더십 경험을 제공합니다. 크리쉬난은 특히 복잡한 생애 주기 자동화 분야에서 중요한 산업 기술 및 소프트웨어 전문성을 기여합니다. 이러한 임명은 오토데스크의 지속적인 이사회 리프레시의 일환으로, 지난 6년 동안 5명의 새로운 독립 이사가 추가되었습니다. 회사는 2025년 연례 총회까지 이사회의 규모를 줄일 계획입니다.
Autodesk (NASDAQ: ADSK) a annoncé la nomination de deux nouveaux directeurs indépendants au sein de son Conseil : John Cahill, ancien président et PDG de Kraft Foods, et Ram Krishnan, vice-président exécutif et COO d'Emerson, avec effet immédiat. Ces nominations font suite à un processus de recherche approfondi. De plus, Lorrie Norrington ne se présentera pas à la réélection lors de l'Assemblée générale annuelle de 2025.
Cahill apporte une vaste expérience en leadership, ayant supervisé la fusion Kraft-Heinz et occupé des postes clés au sein de Pepsi Bottling Group. Krishnan apporte une expertise significative en technologie industrielle et en logiciels, en particulier dans l'automatisation des cycles de vie complexes. Ces nominations font partie du renouvellement en cours du conseil d'Autodesk, avec cinq nouveaux directeurs indépendants ajoutés au cours des six dernières années. L'entreprise prévoit de réduire la taille du conseil lors de l'Assemblée générale annuelle de 2025.
Autodesk (NASDAQ: ADSK) hat die Ernennung von zwei neuen unabhängigen Direktoren in seinen Vorstand bekannt gegeben: John Cahill, ehemaliger Vorsitzender und CEO von Kraft Foods, und Ram Krishnan, Executive Vice President und COO von Emerson, mit sofortiger Wirkung. Die Ernennungen folgen einem umfassenden Suchprozess. Darüber hinaus wird Lorrie Norrington sich nicht zur Wiederwahl bei der Jahreshauptversammlung 2025 stellen.
Cahill bringt umfangreiche Führungserfahrung mit, da er die Fusion von Kraft-Heinz überwacht und in wichtigen Positionen bei der Pepsi Bottling Group gedient hat. Krishnan bringt bedeutende Expertise in Industrie und Software, insbesondere in der automatisierung komplexer Lebenszyklen, mit. Diese Ernennungen sind Teil der laufenden Auffrischung des Vorstands von Autodesk, wobei in den letzten sechs Jahren fünf neue unabhängige Direktoren hinzugefügt wurden. Das Unternehmen plant, die Größe des Vorstands bis zur Jahreshauptversammlung 2025 zu reduzieren.
- Strategic board enhancement with experienced executives from relevant industries
- Continued board refreshment with 5 new independent directors in 6 years
- Addition of technological and operational expertise through Ram Krishnan's appointment
- Strengthened financial and merger expertise through John Cahill's appointment
- Loss of experienced board member Lorrie Norrington by 2025 AGM
- Planned reduction in board size may impact oversight diversity
John Cahill and Ram Krishnan to join Board effective immediately
"We are thrilled to welcome John and Ram to the Autodesk Board, both of whom have proven track records of leading large and complex organizations," said Stacy J. Smith, Chairman of the Autodesk Board of Directors. "Their appointment enhances the breadth and depth of experience and expertise on the Board and reflects our unwavering commitment to continue providing effective oversight of Autodesk's strategy, which is generating significant shareholder value."
Mr. Smith continued, "John brings a track record of strong leadership, financial acumen, operational expertise, and value creation. As Chairman and CEO of Kraft Foods, he oversaw the merger of Kraft and Heinz to create one of the world's largest food and beverage companies. John also served in a variety of leadership and financial roles at Pepsi Bottling Group, including as Chair and CEO, where he was instrumental in its separation from PepsiCo and the execution of its IPO."
"Ram adds tremendous industry and technological expertise, as well as customer insight, which will be highly valuable to Autodesk as we continue to transition our business model and optimize our go-to-market strategy. As COO at Emerson, Ram has helped to lead its transformation into a leading industrial technology and software company, particularly in complex lifecycle automation, including overseeing the acquisition of National Instruments and a majority ownership stake in Aspen Technology. We look forward to partnering with Ram as the Board works to support Autodesk's strategic efforts to create value for shareholders."
"The appointments of John and Ram bring further top-tier leadership and global business experience to Autodesk at an important time in our journey," said Andrew Anagnost, Autodesk President and CEO. "I look forward to working closely with them to benefit from their insights and guidance, as we continue building on our momentum and executing against our goals to drive growth, enhance margins, deliver robust free cash flow, and create value for shareholders."
"I am honored to join the Autodesk Board of Directors," said John Cahill. "Autodesk has a strong reputation of innovation and industry leadership, and I am excited to leverage my expertise and work with the rest of the Board to contribute to its strategic execution and profitable growth."
"Autodesk's leading technology, disciplined approach, and track record of success clearly demonstrate the company's continued strength and momentum," said Krishnan. "I look forward to joining the Board and leveraging my experience in support of Autodesk's long-term success."
The addition of these independent directors is part of Autodesk's longstanding commitment to strong corporate governance. The Autodesk Board is comprised of an independent and engaged set of directors with diverse expertise and experience to effectively oversee the execution of Autodesk's strategy to enhance shareholder value. With these appointments, the Autodesk Board has added five new independent directors in the last six years. Autodesk intends to reduce the size of the Board by its 2025 Annual General Meeting.
"It has been an honor and privilege to serve on the Board of this outstanding company during a period of transformational growth," said Ms. Norrington. "I am confident that this Board will continue to work with Autodesk's management team to oversee the company's strategy to deliver long-term shareholder value, and I look forward to great progress in the months and years ahead."
Mr. Smith said, "We greatly appreciate Lorrie's extraordinary contributions to Autodesk over the years. Her deep technology and operational expertise have helped propel the company's success and created tremendous shareholder value. She has been instrumental in driving strong corporate governance. On behalf of the full Board, I thank Lorrie, and wish her all the best in her future endeavors."
About John Cahill
John Cahill previously served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kraft Foods Group from 2014 to 2015 and Chairman from 2012 to 2014, where he leveraged his deep global business and strategy experience, including in his oversight of the 2015 merger of H.J. Heinz Co. and Kraft Foods Group. He then assumed the role of Vice Chair of the Kraft Heinz Company, a role he has served in since 2015. Prior to joining Kraft Foods, Cahill was an Industrial Partner at Ripplewood Holdings LLC, a private equity firm, from 2008 to 2011, giving him a strong grounding in financial oversight and the perspective of an investor. He previously served in a variety of leadership positions at The Pepsi Bottling Group, Inc., including as CFO, COO, and most recently Chairman and CEO. In addition to the Kraft Heinz Company, Cahill currently serves as a director on the boards of American Airlines and Colgate-Palmolive. Cahill earned a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University, and a Master of Business Administration from the Harvard Business School.
About Ram Krishnan
Ram Krishnan currently serves as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Emerson, a global industrial technology and software leader. In this role, he oversees the business segments, global sales, supply chain, information technology, mergers and acquisitions, and strategy. He brings to Autodesk deep experience in managing a global industry leader's evolution to support both inorganic and organic growth, having helped to lead Emerson's transformation into a leading industrial technology company, including through the acquisition of National Instruments and a majority ownership stake in Aspen Technology. During his over 30-year tenure with Emerson, Krishnan developed extensive expertise in operational execution and strategy development, having served in a variety of roles including Group President of Final Control, Group President of Flow Solutions, and Vice President of Profit Planning and Perfect Execution, among others. Krishnan currently serves as a director on the board of Aspen Technology. Krishnan holds a bachelor's degree in metallurgical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, a master's degree in materials engineering from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a master's degree in business administration from Xavier University.
About Autodesk
The world's designers, engineers, builders, and creators trust Autodesk to help them design and make anything. From the buildings we live and work in, to the cars we drive and the bridges we drive over. From the products we use and rely on, to the movies and games that inspire us. Autodesk's Design and Make Platform unlocks the power of data to accelerate insights and automate processes, empowering our customers with the technology to create the world around us and deliver better outcomes for their business and the planet. For more information, visit autodesk.com or follow @autodesk. #MakeAnything
Autodesk is a registered trademark of Autodesk, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and/or affiliates in the
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including quotations from management and directors, statements about generating shareholder value, goals, strategies, performance, results, board size, and all statements that are not historical facts. There are a significant number of factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from statements made in this press release, including: our strategy to develop and introduce new products and services and to move to platforms and capabilities, exposing us to risks such as limited customer acceptance (both new and existing customers), costs related to product defects, and large expenditures; global economic and political conditions, including changes in monetary and fiscal policy, foreign exchange headwinds, recessionary fears, supply chain disruptions, resulting inflationary pressures and hiring conditions; geopolitical tension and armed conflicts, and extreme weather events; costs and challenges associated with strategic acquisitions and investments; our ability to successfully implement and expand our transaction model; dependency on international revenue and operations, exposing us to significant international regulatory, economic, intellectual property, collections, currency exchange rate, taxation, political, and other risks, including risks related to the war against
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SOURCE Autodesk, Inc.
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