The Board of Directors (the "Board") of Western Digital Corporation (the "Company") represents the owners' interest in perpetuating a successful business, including optimizing long-term financial returns. The Board is responsible for determining that the Company is managed in such a way as to seek to accomplish this result. This is an active, not a passive, responsibility. The Board has the objective that in good times, as well as difficult ones, management is capably executing its responsibilities. The Board's responsibility is to regularly monitor the effectiveness of management policies and decisions including the execution of its strategies.
These guidelines represent the Board's current thinking with respect to selected corporate governance issues considered to be of significance to shareholders. These guidelines, along with the charters of the committees of the Board, provide the framework for the governance of the Company. The guidelines are only guidelines and not rigid rules. The Governance Committee will continue to assess the appropriateness and efficacy of the guidelines and recommend from time to time changes for approval by the Board as it deems appropriate in the best interests of the Company or as required by applicable laws and regulations.
Board Membership Criteria
The Governance Committee periodically reviews (at least annually) the mix of skills, experience levels and backgrounds of present and potential Board members in light of the Company’s strategic and business needs and other considerations that the Governance Committee or the Board deems appropriate.
Selection and Orientation
The Governance Committee reviews qualifications of potential candidates and recommends director nominees to the full Board. The Governance Committee may receive suggestions for candidates from individual Board members, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”), as well as from shareholders of the Company. While the Governance Committee has no specific minimum qualifications for director nominees, the Governance Committee has adopted a policy regarding critical factors to be considered in selecting director nominees which include: the nominee’s personal and professional ethics, integrity and values; the nominee’s intellect, judgment, foresight, skills, experience (including understanding of marketing, finance, the Company’s technology and other elements relevant to the success of a company such as the Company) and achievements, all of which are viewed in the context of the overall composition of the Board; the absence of any conflict of interest (whether due to a business or personal relationship) or legal impediment to, or restriction on, the nominee serving as a director; having a majority of independent directors on the Board; and representation of the long-term interests of the shareholders as a whole and a diversity of backgrounds and expertise, which are most needed and beneficial to the Board and the Company. The Governance Committee is committed to Board diversity and takes into account the personal characteristics, experience and skills of current and prospective directors, including gender, race, ethnicity and membership in another underrepresented community, to ensure that a broad range of perspectives is represented on the Board to effectively perform its governance role and oversee the execution of the Company’s strategy. Accordingly, the Governance Committee will include, and instruct any search firm it engages to include, women and members of underrepresented communities in the pool from which the Governance Committee selects director nominees.
Each of the directors is expected to devote the time and effort necessary to understand the business of the Company and to properly discharge such director’s responsibilities. New directors are required to participate in the Company’s director orientation program to familiarize such directors with, among other things, the Company’s business, and significant financial, accounting and risk management issues, principal executive officers, independent auditors and internal auditors, code of ethics and corporate governance guidelines. The Company encourages its directors to attend at least one continuing education program each year to assist them in performing their Board responsibilities.
Extending the Invitation to a Potential Director to Join the Board
The invitation to join the Board should be extended by the Chairman of the Governance Committee or his or her designee, on behalf of the Board.
Selection of Chairman and CEO
The Board is free to make its choice for Chairman and CEO in any way that the Board considers best for the Company at a given point in time. Therefore, the Board does not have a policy on whether or not the role of the CEO and Chairman should be separate and, if it is to be separate, whether the Chairman should be selected from the non-employee directors or be an employee director.
Lead Independent Director
The independent directors will appoint a lead independent director: (1) if the Chairman is not an independent director under the listing standards of The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Applicable Listing Rules”), or (2) if the Board otherwise deems it appropriate. The lead independent director will (1) act as a liaison between the independent directors and the Company’s management, (2) be responsible for assisting the Chairman in establishing the agenda for Board meetings, (3) be responsible for coordinating the agenda for, and chairing, the executive sessions of the independent directors, (4) preside at any meeting of the Board at which the Chairman is not present, (5) be available for engagement with shareholders as appropriate, and (6) perform such other duties as may be specified by the Board from time to time. In addition, the lead independent director may call executive sessions of the independent directors at such time and place as he or she determines.
Executive Sessions of Non-Management Directors
The independent directors, as such term is defined under the Applicable Listing Rules, shall meet at least twice a year without any executive officers or management directors present. These meetings are scheduled in conjunction with regular Board meetings. In addition, any independent director may call for an executive session of the independent directors of the Board to coincide with any regularly scheduled Board meeting. Independent directors may also meet separately, with the CEO, from time to time, as determined by the independent directors and/or the CEO.
Access to Independent Advisors
The Board and its Committees have access to such independent advisors as the Board or the relevant Committee (consistent with the provisions of its charter) deem necessary and appropriate.
Size of Board
The Board and the Governance Committee have determined that a Board of 7-13 directors is currently the appropriate size.
Mix of Inside and Independent Directors
On matters of corporate governance, the practice is to involve the full Board. The Board shall be composed of a majority of independent directors.
Independence of Directors
The Board shall annually review the relationships that each director has with the Company. Following such an annual review, only those directors who the Board affirmatively determines do not have a relationship which, in the opinion of the Board, would interfere with the exercise of independent judgment in carrying out the responsibilities of a director, and who otherwise meet the definition of independent director under the Applicable Listing Rules, will be considered independent directors.
Each of the Audit Committee, the Compensation and Talent Committee and the Governance Committee shall be composed entirely of independent directors satisfying applicable legal, regulatory and stock exchange requirements necessary for an assignment to any such Committee.
Director Change in Circumstances
Any director who (i) retires from his or her principal occupation or employment, (ii) has a change in his or her principal occupation or employment from the role held when he or she was last elected to the Board, or (iii) is unavailable for active participation as a member of the Board due to health, change of residence or other reason (except for a short duration of less than three months), shall submit to the Governance Committee an offer of resignation from the Board. Action on such conditional offer of resignation is by Board resolution, upon recommendation of the Governance Committee.
Service on Boards of Other Companies
Directors are encouraged to limit the number of other boards on which they serve, taking into account potential board attendance, participation and effectiveness on these boards. Directors may not serve simultaneously on more than five public company boards, including the Company’s Board; provided; however, that the Company’s Chief Executive Officer may not serve simultaneously on more than two public company boards, including the Company’s Board. Directors should also advise the Chairman of the Board and the Chairman of the Governance Committee in advance of accepting an invitation to serve on another board.
Retirement Age and Term Limits
The Board does not believe it should establish term limits. While term limits could help ensure that there are fresh ideas and viewpoints available to the Board, they hold the disadvantage of losing the contribution of directors who have been able to develop, over a period of time, increasing insight into the Company and its operations and, therefore, provide an increasing contribution to the Board as a whole. As an alternative to term limits, the Governance Committee, in conjunction with the CEO, formally reviews each director’s continuation on the Board every year. This also allows each director the opportunity to conveniently confirm his or her desire to continue as a member of the Board.
The Board has adopted a policy that, unless the Board determines in a particular instance that longer tenure is in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders: (1) no director shall be nominated for re-election at an annual shareholders meeting coinciding with or next following his or her 72nd birthday and (2) inside directors shall retire on the date of their retirement or termination of employment with the Company or its affiliates.
Board Compensation
The form and amount of director compensation is approved by the Board, upon recommendation of the Compensation and Talent Committee, with input from the independent compensation consultant. In making its recommendation, the Compensation and Talent Committee considers: (1) both direct and indirect forms of compensation to the Company’s directors, including any charitable contributions by the Company to organizations in which a director is affiliated and consulting or other similar arrangements between the Company and a director, and (2) the impact on the director’s independence of the amount and form of director compensation. The Compensation and Talent Committee may also, in its sole discretion after considering such independence factors as may be required by the Applicable Listing Rules or applicable Securities and Exchange Commission rules, retain or obtain the advice of a compensation consultant, legal counsel or other advisor to assist it as the Compensation and Talent Committee determines necessary or appropriate.
Directors’ fees are the only compensation a member of the Company's Audit Committee may receive from the Company.
Assessing the Board's Performance
At least annually, the Board will conduct a self-evaluation utilizing a Self-Appraisal Questionnaire, a third party facilitator and/or other appropriate means developed by the Governance Committee and approved by the Board. The self-evaluation will be designed to assess the Board’s contribution as a whole and the contributions of the committees of the Board and to specifically review areas in which the directors believe a better contribution could be made. The purpose is to increase the effectiveness of the functions of the Board, not to target individual Board members. The Board believes, however, that assessments of individual Board members are an important part of the evaluation of Board performance. Therefore, it is the Company’s policy to provide for a means of review and assessment by Board members of each individual Board member’s performance as part of the overall Board evaluation process. In addition, each of the Board’s committees conducts an annual self-evaluation. The Governance Committee will manage the Board review process.
Board Interaction with Institutional Investors, the Press, Customers, etc.
The Board believes that management generally should speak for the Company. While individual Board members may, from time to time, meet or otherwise communicate with various constituencies that are involved with the Company, it is expected that Board members would do this with the knowledge of management and, in most instances, at the request of management. In its discretion, the Board may interact with the Company’s shareholders as appropriate.
Regular Attendance of Non-Directors at Board Meetings
The Chief Legal Officer and/or the Secretary are the only non-directors generally present at each Board meeting for its duration. The officers who compose the senior management attend meetings for operational, financial and related presentations. Other officers attend on an invitation basis for presentations or other purposes.
Board Access to Senior Management
Board members have complete access to Company management. It is assumed that Board members will use judgment to be sure that this contact is not distracting to the Company and that such contact, if in writing, be copied to the CEO. Furthermore, the Board encourages management to, from time to time, bring managers into Board meetings who: (a) can provide additional insight into the items being discussed because of personal involvement in these areas, and/or (b) represent managers with future potential that senior management believes should be given exposure to the Board.
Board Meetings
Board policy requires at least four Board meetings per year. Board meetings are scheduled a year in advance. Changes to the schedule are made as needed by the Chairman in consultation with other Board members and appropriate members of management. Directors are expected to attend in person and participate in Board and committee meetings, and to participate telephonically when they are unable to attend in person. On occasions when a director is unable to attend a meeting, he or she is expected to notify the Chairman of the Board or appropriate committee in advance of such meeting.
The Chairman, in consultation with other Board members or members of management, as appropriate, establishes the agenda for each Board meeting. Each Board member is free to suggest the inclusion of items on the agenda.
Any member of the Board may act to convene the Board as necessary or desirable in the event the Chairman is incapacitated.
Board Materials
Financial and economic information about the Company is provided to the Board on a regular basis. Generally information and data that is important to the Board’s understanding of the business to be conducted at a meeting will be distributed in writing to the Board an adequate time before the Board meets. Management will make every attempt to see that this material is as brief as possible while still providing the desired information. On those occasions in which the subject matter is too sensitive to put on paper, the Chairman may elect to contact each director by telephone in advance of the meeting to notify them of the principle issues the Board will consider. Directors are expected to review and devote appropriate time to studying Board materials.
Board Presentations
As a general rule, presentations on specific subjects are sent to the Board members in advance so that Board meeting time may be conserved and discussion time focused on questions that the Board has about the material.
Annual Meeting of Shareholders
Each director is strongly encouraged to attend the Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Number of Committees
There are currently four standing Board committees: Audit, Compensation and Talent, Executive and Governance. The Board may form, merge or dissolve any Committee the Board determines in the best interests of the Company, to the extent consistent with the Applicable Listing Rules.
Committee Assignment and Rotation
The Board has not adopted a specific tenure policy for Committee Chairs. Committee assignments, including Chairs, are evaluated annually and rotated as appropriate. All Committee changes are approved by the Board, upon recommendation of the Governance Committee.
Frequency and Length of Committee Meetings
Committee meetings (other than for the Executive Committee) are normally held on the day preceding, or the morning of, each regularly scheduled Board meeting. Committee meetings are scheduled a year in advance. Changes to the schedule are made as needed by the Committee Chair in consultation with, as appropriate, other members of the Committee and members of management. Each Committee Chair makes a report on Committee matters to the Board at the next scheduled Board meeting.
Committee Agenda
The Chair of the Committee in consultation with, as appropriate, other members of the Committee and members of management, develops the Committee’s agenda. A preliminary annual schedule of Committee agenda subjects is issued each year. The final agenda is set by the Committee Chair in consultation with, as appropriate, other members of the Committee and members of management prior to each meeting. Each Committee’s agenda is shared with the Board.
Committee Charters
The standing Committees operate pursuant to their charters adopted by the Board, which set forth the responsibilities and procedures that the Committee must follow. Each Committee annually reviews its charter and recommends to the Board any changes it deems necessary.
Formal Evaluation of the CEO
The Chairman and the Lead Independent Director, as applicable, and the Compensation and Talent Committee will review and approve corporate goals and objectives for CEO compensation and evaluate the CEO’s performance in light of those goals and objectives. The Compensation and Talent Committee will then determine and approve the CEO’s compensation level. The Board will provide input to the Chairman, Lead Independent Director, as applicable, and the Compensation and Talent Committee on the appropriate goals and objectives for the CEO and the CEO’s performance against those goals and objectives.
Succession Planning and Management Development
The Board of Directors has adopted and shall review at least annually a succession plan for key management personnel, including the position of CEO. To assist the Board in this function, the CEO shall meet at least annually with the Board to report on succession planning.
The CEO has recommended, and the Governance Committee and Board of Directors have approved, an emergency CEO succession plan, which will become effective in the event the CEO becomes unable to perform his or her duties. The emergency CEO succession plan will be reviewed at least annually by the Board and any changes must be approved by the Board.
The Board will oversee the creation and maintenance of a program of management development. The CEO will review the program annually with the Board.
Approved by Board of Directors: May 25, 2021
