Summary
Flex Ltd. (FLEX) announced a key executive change with the appointment of Daniel Wendler as its new Chief Accounting Officer (CAO), effective February 28, 2022. This appointment follows the resignation of David Bennett from the CAO position to become Chief Financial Officer at Nextracker LLC, also effective February 28, 2022. Mr. Wendler brings extensive experience to Flex, having most recently served as CAO for Keter Group SA, where he was instrumental in preparing the company for an IPO. Prior to that, he held significant accounting and controller roles at Carrier Global Corporation for over two decades, and has a background in public accounting with Price Waterhouse LLP.
Key Highlights
- 1Daniel Wendler appointed Chief Accounting Officer effective February 28, 2022.
- 2David Bennett resigns as Chief Accounting Officer to become CFO of Nextracker LLC, effective February 28, 2022.
- 3Wendler's compensation includes an annual base salary of $400,000.
- 4Eligible for a target bonus of 50% of base salary ($200,000), with potential to earn up to 200% of target.
- 5Will receive an annual equity award with a target value of $325,000 for fiscal year 2023, vesting over three years with performance conditions.
- 6Receives a one-time $100,000 funding payment under the Deferred Compensation Plan, cliff vesting after four years.
- 7Included are make-whole provisions for lost incentive compensation, consisting of $160,000 in RSUs and a $40,000 sign-on bonus.
Frequently Asked Questions
Daniel Wendler's appointment is significant as he brings substantial experience in financial leadership, including his recent role as CAO for Keter Group SA, where he managed a transition towards an IPO. His appointment suggests a focus on strengthening Flex's accounting and financial reporting functions.
In his first year, Mr. Wendler's direct compensation includes a base salary of $400,000 and a target bonus of $200,000, for a total of $600,000 before considering the potential for above-target bonus payout. He also receives a $40,000 sign-on bonus and is eligible for contributions to the Deferred Compensation Plan.
David Bennett's departure from the CAO role to become CFO at Nextracker LLC, an external company, is a standard executive transition. While it signifies a loss of internal expertise, it also indicates a positive career move for Mr. Bennett and does not appear to signal any underlying issues at Flex based on this filing.
Yes, the equity award for fiscal year 2023 is subject to performance conditions for the performance-based restricted stock units, in addition to vesting based on continued employment.