Corporate Governance Guidelines
C.H. ROBINSON WORLDWIDE, INC.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE GUIDELINES
(As of November, 2023)
These Corporate Governance Guidelines have been adopted by the Board of Directors of C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. to serve as a flexible framework within which the Board may conduct its business, and are subject to modification at the discretion of the Board. They supplement all applicable laws and existing corporate governance documents of the Company.
I. DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
Qualifications. Directors should possess the highest personal and professional ethics, integrity and values, and be committed to representing the long-term interests of Robinson’s stockholders. The selection and nomination process shall be conducted by the Governance Committee, with input and recommendations from any director. The Governance Committee will consider appropriate criteria including: current or recent experience as a board member or as a chief executive officer or other executive position, expertise in a particular business discipline, and diversity of talent, experience, accomplishments and perspective. Nominees recommended by stockholders will be brought to the attention of the Governance Committee. The Governance Committee shall recommend nominees to the Board.
Change in Affiliation. Directors are expected to report to the Chair of the Governance Committee when they experience a significant change in their business or professional affiliation or responsibility, and shall, at such time, promptly offer his or her resignation as a director for consideration by the Board. The Governance Committee will determine whether the director continues to adequately meet the requirements for service on the Board of Directors, and will make a recommendation to the Board regarding such offer of resignation. An employee director shall promptly offer his or her resignation as a director for consideration by the Board upon termination of his or her active service as an employee of the Company.
Limit on the Number of Other Directorships. Directors are expected to devote sufficient time to fulfill their responsibilities effectively. Directors who serve as executive officers of public companies may not serve on more than two public company boards, consisting of Robinson’s Board and the board of directors of the director’s employer, and other directors may not serve on more than a total of four public company boards, including Robinson’s Board, unless, in either case, the Board approves an exception. All directors shall advise the Chair of the Governance Committee prior to the director accepting a position on the board of another for-profit to enable the Company to assess any potential conflicts of interest and the suitability of the proposed directorship.
In performing the duties described above, the Lead Director is expected to consult with the Chairman of the Board and the chairs of the Board Committees as appropriate to ensure coordination of Board leadership.
II. DIRECTOR RESPONSIBILITIES
Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Directors must disclose to the rest of the members of the Board of Directors any potential conflict of interest they may have with respect to a matter under discussion and, if appropriate, refrain from such discussions and from voting on a matter on which they may have a conflict.
Board Review. The Board of Directors shall review and, where appropriate, approve fundamental operating, financial, risk management and other corporate strategies, as well as major plans and objectives and shall monitor the effectiveness of management policies and decisions, including the execution of strategies.
III. BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Agenda. The Chairman of the Board, in consultation with the other Board members, shall set the agenda for regular meetings of the Board of Directors. Agendas for special meetings will be set by the director(s) calling the meeting. The Chair of each Committee shall set the agenda for the meetings of the applicable Committee. Directors and Committee members may suggest agenda items and may raise other matters at meetings.
IV. BOARD COMMITTEES
Audit, Governance and Compensation Committees. The Board of Directors shall at all times have an Audit Committee, a Governance Committee and a Compensation Committee. All of the members of these Committees shall be independent. Each of these Committees shall operate in accordance with its charter, applicable law, and the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and NASDAQ. The Board of Directors shall appoint committee members and elect a chair for each committee, taking into consideration the recommendation of the Governance Committee. A director may only serve as the Chair of one Board Committee at a time. Management is expected to give input to the Board on Committee assignments.
Other Committees. The Board of Directors may also establish such other committees as it deems appropriate and delegate to those committees any authority permitted by applicable law and Robinson’s By-laws as the Board of Directors sees fit, other than the responsibilities delegated to the Audit Committee, Governance Committee, and Compensation Committee in their charters or reserved to the full Board of Directors.
V. DIRECTOR ACCESS TO MANAGEMENT AND INDEPENDENT ADVISORS
Access to Management. Each Director shall have complete access to, and are encouraged to talk directly with, management. Management will make itself available to answer the Directors’ questions between meetings.
VI. DIRECTOR COMPENSATION AND EDUCATION
Role of the Governance Committee. Each year, in accordance with the terms of its Charter, the Governance Committee shall review the compensation paid to the members of the Board of Directors and give its recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding both the amount of director compensation that should be paid and the allocation of that compensation between equity-based awards and cash.
Continuing Education. The Board of Directors encourages its members to participate in continuing education programs sponsored by universities, stock exchanges or other organizations or consultants specializing in director education. Directors may attend continuing education programs at Robinson’s expense.
VII. MANAGEMENT EVALUATION AND SUCCESSION
Evaluation of Chief Executive Officer and Other Management. The Compensation Committee shall annually report to the Board of Directors on its evaluation of the Chief Executive Officer’s performance. In preparing the report, the Compensation Committee shall solicit input from the Chair of the Governance Committee. The Board of Directors shall review this report, including discussing it outside the presence of the management Directors. In addition, the Board of Directors, shall provide inputs to the Chief Executive Officer, who shall conduct an annual assessment of the performance and development of other senior management.
Succession Planning. Succession planning for Robinson’s senior management positions is critical to Robinson’s long-term success. The Board of Directors shall annually review the Company’s succession plans. The Board shall also identify potential successors for the Chief Executive Officer position, although this does not mean that it must at all times have selected a particular individual as the designated successor chief executive officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall participate in this process by providing the Board with recommendations or evaluations of potential successors and identifying any development plans that the Chief Executive Officer recommends for such individuals. The Chief Executive Officer is expected to recommend to the Board of Directors on an ongoing basis one or more successors in the event of an unexpected inability of the Chief Executive Officer to continue to serve.
VIII. ANNUAL PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF THE BOARD
Self-Evaluation by the Board of Directors. Each year, the Board of Directors will conduct a self-evaluation to determine whether it and its Committees are functioning effectively. The Governance Committee shall be responsible for seeking comments from all Directors and reporting its evaluation of Board and Committee performance to the Board of Directors on an annual basis. As part of the self-evaluation process, the Chair of the Governance Committee may have individual conversations with each director to discuss individual and group dynamics and performance. The full Board of Directors will discuss the evaluation report to determine what, if any, action could improve Board and Board Committee performance.
Evaluation of the Corporate Governance Guidelines. The Board of Directors recognizes that these Corporate Governance Guidelines must continue to evolve to meet the changing needs of Robinson and its stockholders and changing requirements. The Board of Directors, with the assistance of its Governance Committee, will periodically review these Corporate Governance Guidelines to determine whether any changes are appropriate.
IX. STOCK OWNERSHIP GUIDELINES
Stock Ownership. Directors and Officers are encouraged to make a substantial investment in Robinson stock, depending upon individual circumstances. Directors are required to own a minimum of five times their annual retainer in Company stock no later than five years after joining the Board of Directors.