Corporate Governance

Ethan Brown is the founder of Beyond Meat and has served as our President and Chief Executive Officer and as a member of our board of directors since our inception in 2009. He also serves as a manager of the Planet Partnership, LLC, our joint venture with PepsiCo, Inc., and served as our Secretary from our inception to September 2018. Mr. Brown began his career with a focus on clean energy and the environment, including serving as an energy analyst for the National Governors’ Center for Best Practices. He then joined Ballard Power Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: BLDP), a hydrogen fuel-cell company, being promoted from an entry-level manager to reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer before leaving to found Beyond Meat.

Mr. Brown also created and opened a center for fuel reformation and has held several industry positions, including Vice Chairman of the Board at The National Hydrogen Association and Secretary of the United States Fuel Cell Council. He is a Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute, was honored as part of Inc.’s Best Led Companies 2021, The Bloomberg 50 for 2019, Newsweek’s Top Innovators of 2019, and, along with Beyond Meat, is the recipient of the United Nation’s highest environmental accolade, Champion of the Earth (2018). Mr. Brown holds an MBA from Columbia University, an MPP with a focus on Environment from the University of Maryland and a BA in History and Government from Connecticut College. We believe Mr. Brown’s strategic vision for our company and his expertise in technology and business operations make him qualified to serve on our board of directors.

Seth Goldman joined Beyond Meat as a member of our board of directors in February 2013. Mr. Goldman served as Executive Chair of Beyond Meat from October 2015 through February 2020. Mr. Goldman is the Co-Founder of Eat the Change and has served as CEO of Eat the Change since March 2020. He is also a co-founder of PLNT Burger, a quick-serve restaurant concept. Mr. Goldman was the TeaEO Emeritus and Innovation Catalyst for The Coca-Cola Company’s Venturing & Emerging Brands, a part-time position he held from November 2015 through December 2019. Mr. Goldman co-founded Honest Tea Inc., a bottled organic tea company, in February 1998, which was later sold to The Coca-Cola Company, and previously served as Honest Tea’s President and TeaEO until 2015.

In 2022, Mr. Goldman was named Person of the Year by BevNet Magazine, and in 2015 he was named the #1 Disruptor by Beverage World and Beverage Executive of the Year by Beverage Industry magazine. He has also been recognized as an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and by the Washington DC Business Hall of Fame. In 2018, Partnership for a Healthier America recognized Mr. Goldman with its Visionary CEO award. Mr. Goldman is the co-chair of the Yale School of Management’s Entrepreneurship Advisory Board and, since January 2008, has served on the advisory board of Bethesda Green, a local sustainability non-profit he co-founded. He also served on the board of Ripple Foods, a dairy-free plant-based milk company, from November 2015 to October 2020, the advisory board of the American Beverage Association from 2013 to 2019 and the Yale School of Management from July 2013 to March 2020. Mr. Goldman has demonstrated his commitment to boardroom excellence by becoming NACD Directorship Certified and as a NACD Board Leadership Fellow by the National Association of Corporate Directors.

Mr. Goldman has a BA degree in Government from Harvard College and a Masters of Private & Public Management degree from Yale School of Management and is a Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute. We believe that Mr. Goldman is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his extensive experience working at fast-growing brands in the food and beverage industry, his experience founding and building an entrepreneurial company and his knowledge of sustainable business practices.

Sally Grimes has served as a member of our board of directors since May 2021. Ms. Grimes most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of Clif Bar & Company from May 2020 to March 2023, when Clif Bar was acquired by Mondelez International (NYSE: MDLZ). Prior to joining Clif Bar, Ms. Grimes served in a number of executive roles at Tyson Foods, Inc. (NYSE: TSN), including Group President of Prepared Foods for Tyson Foods from August 2017 to January 2020, President of Retail from January 2017 to August 2017 and Chief Global Growth Officer & President, International from August 2014 to January 2017. Ms. Grimes joined Tyson Foods through the acquisition of The Hillshire Brands Company, where she served as Chief Innovation Officer & President, Gourmet Foods Group from July 2012 to August 2014. Prior to joining Hillshire, Ms. Grimes served as Global Vice President of Marketing for Sharpie at Newell Rubbermaid from June 2007 to July 2012. Ms. Grimes spent a decade in brand management at Kraft Foods from July 1997 to June 2007.

Ms. Grimes has been recognized by leading business publications including being named one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women to Watch in 2019 and one of Fast Company’s Most Creative People in Business in 2012. She was also recognized by Crain’s Business as one of The Most Powerful Women in Chicago Business in 2019, and by San Francisco Business Times as one of The Most Influential Women in Bay Area Business in 2022. Ms. Grimes has served on the board of directors of Silver Oak Winery and Continental Grain Company since November 2022 and the board of directors of the Midtown Educational Foundation since June 2016. She served on the board of the Economic Club of Chicago from June 2019 to May 2022 and the board of Numerator, a Vista Private Equity portfolio company, from October 2019 to October 2020. Ms. Grimes holds a BS degree in Finance from Valparaiso University and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. We believe that Ms. Grimes is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to her extensive experience in the food industry and her significant leadership experience.

Colleen Jay has served as a member of our board of directors since May 2022. Ms. Jay retired from The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE: PG) in October 2017 after 32 years of service, most recently as Global Division President from 2015. Ms. Jay joined The Procter & Gamble Company in 1985 where she managed top brand portfolios and large multi-billion-dollar businesses across multiple categories and geographies, including successfully leading a complex transition and divestiture of several businesses and leading operational units in the United States, Canada, China, and multiple global businesses from Switzerland during the course of her extensive career. From 2010 to 2012, Ms. Jay served as President, Global Female Beauty. From 2012 to 2015, Ms. Jay served as President, Global Retail Hair Care and Color.

Ms. Jay has been a member of the board of directors of Treasury Wine Estates (ASX: TWE) since April 2018, and currently serves on its Human Resources Committee and Wine Operations and Sustainability Committee and was previously on its Audit and Risk Committee. Ms. Jay has been a member of the board of directors of The Cooper Companies, Inc. (NYSE: COO) since April 2016 and currently serves as Chair of its Organization and Compensation Committee and as a member of its Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee. Ms. Jay has also worked closely with Catalyst, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to improving workplace inclusion for women. She received a BBA degree in Business from Wilfrid Laurier University. We believe that Ms. Jay is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to her extensive experience working in the consumer products industry at a leading public company and her global public board of directors’ experience.

Jim Koch has served as a member of our board of directors since May 2023. Mr. Koch currently serves as Chairman of The Boston Beer Company, Inc. (NYSE: SAM), which he founded in 1984. Until January 2001, Mr. Koch also served as its Chief Executive Officer. Prior to starting The Boston Beer Company, Inc., he worked as a consultant for an international consulting firm with a focus on manufacturing.

Mr. Koch holds a BA degree in Government from Harvard College, an MBA degree from Harvard Business School and a JD degree from Harvard Law School. We believe that Mr. Koch is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his experience founding and building a public craft brewing company, and skills in strategy, brand development and industry leadership.

Raymond J. Lane has served as a member of our board of directors since February 2015. Mr. Lane has been a Managing Partner at GreatPoint Ventures, a venture capital firm, since March 2015. Mr. Lane has served as a Partner Emeritus and Advisor of Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers LLC, a venture capital firm, since April 2013 and was a Managing Partner of Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield & Byers LLC from September 2000 to April 2013. Mr. Lane has served on the board of directors of Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company (NYSE: HPE) from November 2015 to the present and is currently a member of its Technology Committee. In addition, Mr. Lane previously served as executive Chairman of Hewlett-Packard Company from September 2011 to April 2013 and as non-executive Chairman of Hewlett-Packard Company from November 2010 to September 2011.

Prior to joining Kleiner Perkins, Mr. Lane was President and Chief Operating Officer and a director of Oracle Corporation (NYSE: ORCL), a software company. Mr. Lane serves on the Board of Trustees of Carnegie Mellon University, including as Chairman of the Board from July 2009 to July 2015. He also serves on the board of directors of Special Olympics International. Mr. Lane holds a BS degree in Mathematics and an honorary PhD in Science from West Virginia University. We believe that Mr. Lane is qualified to serve on our board of directors due to his experience in working with entrepreneurial companies and his experience on other public company boards of directors.

Muktesh “Micky” Pant has served as a member of our board of directors since May 2021. Mr. Pant retired from Yum Brands in January 2018 after 13 years of service, most recently as the Chief Executive Officer of Yum China Holdings (NYSE: YUMC). Mr. Pant joined Yum Brands in 2005 as its Chief Marketing Officer and served in a number of senior roles of increasing responsibility, including Chief Executive Officer of Yum Restaurants International, Chief Executive Officer of KFC Globally, President of Taco Bell International and Chief Concept Officer of Yum Brands. Mr. Pant was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the China Division of Yum Brands in 2015 and played a key role in the spin-off of Yum China as a separate company and its successful listing on the New York Stock Exchange in 2016. In 2018, Mr. Pant retired as Chief Executive Officer of Yum China Holdings and served as Vice Chairman of the Board and Senior Advisor until May 2020. Mr. Pant served as a consultant to Beyond Meat from March 3, 2020 through December 31, 2020 pursuant to a consulting agreement between Mr. Pant and the company.

Mr. Pant has four decades of experience in marketing and international business and has lived and worked in the United States, China, the United Kingdom and India. Prior to working for Yum Brands, Mr. Pant worked at Reebok International, serving in various roles from 1994 to 2004, including Chief Marketing Officer. Mr. Pant also worked at PepsiCo India from 1992 to 1994 and at Unilever in India and the United Kingdom from 1976 to 1990.

Mr. Pant was a member of the board of directors of Primavera Capital Acquisition Corporation, a special purpose acquisition company listed on the NYSE (NYSE: PV-UN) from January 2021 to December 2022 when that company was acquired by Lanvin Group. Mr. Pant previously served as a member of the board of directors of Pinnacle Foods (now part of Conagra Brands) from December 2014 to June 2018 and as a member of its audit committee from 2015 to 2018. Mr. Pant holds a B Tech degree in Chemical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur and is a recipient of the Institute’s Distinguished Alumnus Award. We believe that Mr. Pant is qualified to serve on our board of directors because of his extensive experience working in the food and beverage industry, including leadership positions with quick serve restaurants, and his public company board experience.

Ned Segal has served as a member of our board of directors since November 2018. Mr. Segal served as the Chief Financial Officer of Twitter, Inc. from August 2017 to October 2022. From January 2015 to August 2017, Mr. Segal served as Senior Vice President of Finance of Intuit Inc. (NASDAQ: INTU), a business and financial software company. From April 2013 to January 2015, Mr. Segal served as Chief Financial Officer of RPX Corporation, a former publicly traded company that provides patent risk management and discovery services. From 1996 to April 2013, Mr. Segal held various positions at The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE: GS), most recently as Head of Global Software Investment Banking. Mr. Segal was a member of the board of directors of TS Innovation Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company listed on NASDAQ, from November 2020 to June 2021 when that company was acquired by and changed its name to Latch, Inc. (NASDAQ: LTCH). Mr. Segal was a member of the board of directors of Tishman Speyer Innovation Corp. II, a special purpose acquisition company listed on NASDAQ from January 2021 to December 2022, and served on its Audit Committee and as Chair of its Compensation Committee. Mr. Segal holds a BS degree in Spanish from Georgetown University. We believe that Mr. Segal is qualified to serve on our board of directors because of his experience in finance at a number of major public companies.

Kathy N. Waller has served as a member of our board of directors since November 2018. Ms. Waller retired from The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) in March 2019 after more than 30 years of service, most recently as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and President, Enabling Services prior to her retirement. Ms. Waller joined The Coca-Cola Company in 1987 as a senior accountant in the Accounting Research Department and served in a number of accounting and finance roles of increasing responsibility. From July 2004 to August 2009, Ms. Waller served as Chief of Internal Audit. In December 2005, she was elected Vice President of The Coca-Cola Company, and in August 2009, she was elected Controller. In August 2013, she became Vice President, Finance and Controller, assuming additional responsibilities for corporate treasury, corporate tax and finance capabilities, and served in that position until April 2014, when she was appointed Chief Financial Officer and elected Executive Vice President. Ms. Waller assumed expanded responsibility for The Coca-Cola Company’s strategic governance areas when she was also appointed to serve as President, Enabling Services, on May 1, 2017.

Ms. Waller has been a member of the board of directors of Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE: DAL) since July 2015, and currently serves on its Audit, Corporate Governance and Personnel and Compensation Committees. Ms. Waller has been a member of the board of directors of CGI Inc. (NYSE: GIB) since December 2018 and currently serves on its Audit and Risk Management Committee. Ms. Waller joined the board of directors of Cadence Bank (NYSE:CADE) in May 2019 and serves on its Credit Risk Committee and Executive Compensation and Stock Incentive Committee. Previously she served on the board of directors of Coca-Cola FEMSA, S.A.B. de C.V and Monster Beverage Corporation. In addition, she is a member of the Board of Trustees of Spelman College and The Woodruff Arts Center. In February 2022, Ms. Waller was appointed Executive Director of the Atlanta Committee for Progress, a public/private partnership between the city’s top business, civic and academic leaders, and the Mayor of Atlanta. She received a BA degree in History from the University of Rochester and an MBA in Accounting and Finance from the Simon Business School at the University of Rochester. We believe Ms. Waller is qualified to serve on our board of directors because she has more than 30 years of experience in accounting and finance at a major public company.