Investors
Corporate Governance

Brady Code of Ethics and Corporate Governance Principles

Brady strives to conduct its business under the highest ethical standards. By putting our ethics and values first, we will continue to be a company people want to work for, do business with, and invest in. We are committed to upholding sound principles of corporate governance and remaining in compliance with the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the New York Stock Exchange and other applicable governmental rules and regulations.

The following documents are to help our investors understand our principles and commitment to ethical behavior. 

Board Committees

Brady Corporation’s board committees are listed below. Links to the committee charters are below and provide additional insight into the purpose and responsibilities of the committees.

Brady Corporation's board committees include:

Board Committee Members

  Audit Committee Management Development & Compensation Committee Corporate Governance Committee Finance Committee Technology Committee
Patrick W. Allender
Financial Expert
MEMBER   MEMBER CHAIR
 
Dr. David S. Bem MEMBER MEMBER     MEMBER
Dr. Elizabeth P. Bruno     CHAIR MEMBER MEMBER
Joanne Collins Smee MEMBER       MEMBER
Deidre Cusack         MEMBER
Christopher M. Hix
Financial Expert
MEMBER     MEMBER  
Vineet Nargolwala
MEMBER   MEMBER  
Bradley C. Richardson
Financial Expert
CHAIR MEMBER MEMBER MEMBER
Dr. Michelle E. Williams   MEMBER MEMBER   CHAIR

Board Members

 

Patrick W. Allender

Mr. Allender was elected to the Board of Directors in 2007. He serves as the Chair of the Finance Committee and as a member of the Audit and Corporate Governance Committees. He served as Executive Vice President and CFO of Danaher Corporation from 1998 to 2005 and Executive Vice President from 2005 to 2007. He served as a director of Colfax Corporation (NYSE: CFX) from 2008 to 2022, when ESAB Corporation separated from Colfax Corporation. Mr. Allender joined ESAB Corporation’s (NYSE: ESAB) board in 2022, and currently serves as a director. Mr. Allender previously served as a director of Diebold Nixdorf, Inc. (NYSE: DBD) from 2011 to 2020. He has a bachelor's degree in accounting from Loyola University Maryland and is a certified public accountant. Mr. Allender's strong background in finance and accounting, as well as his past experience as the CFO of a public company, provides the Board with financial expertise and insight.

 

Dr. David S. Bem

Dr. Bem was elected to the Board of Directors in 2019. He serves as a member of the Management Development and Compensation, Audit and Technology Committees. Dr. Bem is Vice President, Science and Technology and Chief Technology Officer of PPG. Prior to PPG, he spent 8 years at Dow Chemical Company in a number of research and development roles, most recently as Vice President, Research and Development Consumer Solutions and Infrastructure Solutions, and also worked in research and development roles at Celanese Corporation and UOP/Honeywell International, Inc. He has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from West Virginia University and a doctorate in inorganic chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Bem’s extensive experience in technology and research and development provides the Board with important expertise in new product development and innovation. 

 

Dr. Elizabeth P. Bruno

Dr. Bruno was elected to the Board of Directors in 2003. She serves as the Chair of the Corporate Governance Committee and is a member of the Finance and Technology Committees. Dr. Bruno is the President of the Brady Education Foundation in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Dr. Bruno has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Rochester, a master of child clinical psychology degree from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill and a doctorate in developmental psychology from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. She is the granddaughter of William H. Brady, Jr., the founder of Brady Corporation. As a result of her substantial ownership stake in the Company, as well as her family's history with the Company, she is well positioned to understand, articulate and advocate for the rights and interests of the Company's shareholders. 

Joanne Collins Smee

Ms. Collins Smee was elected to the Board of Directors in 2022. She serves as a member of the Technology and Audit committees. Ms. Collins Smee is Executive Vice President and President, Americas, for Xerox Corporation and has been in this role since June 2022. She is also an Executive Vice President of Xerox Holdings Corporation. Previously, she was Chief Commercial, SMB and Channels Officer for Xerox and was in that role since February 2020. Ms. Collins Smee joined Xerox in September 2018 as Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. Before Xerox, she led Technology Transformation Services for the U.S. Federal Government and spent more than two decades at IBM in global executive roles spanning client sales and delivery of technical products and services. Ms. Collins Smee has a bachelor’s degree of arts from Boston College, a master of business administration degree from New York University and a master of arts degree from Columbia University. Ms. Collins Smee’s extensive experience in high-technology global business and strong leadership skills, provides the Board with important expertise in product and services innovation.

Deidre Cusack

Ms. Cusack was elected to the Board of Directors in 2024 and serves as a member of the Technology Committee. She was the Executive Vice President of Global Products & Solutions of Dematic from 2020 until her retirement in 2024. She previously was Group Senior Vice President & Global Product Group Manager of Distribution Transformers for ABB. Prior to ABB, she spent 19 years with Ametek, Inc. in a variety of business unit leadership roles. Ms. Cusack serves on the boards of Central Moloney and Rosendin Electric. Ms. Cusack has a bachelor’s degree in optics from the University of Rochester and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Tufts University. Ms. Cusack’s extensive experience in technology and research and development provides the Board with valuable expertise in new product development and innovation.

Christopher M. Hix

Mr. Hix was elected to the Board of Directors in 2024 and serves as a member of the Audit and Finance Committees. He served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Enovis Corporation from 2016 to 2022 (and its predecessor Colfax Corporation). He previously served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of OM Group, and as the Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Robbins & Myers. Prior to Robbins & Myers, he spent 14 years with Roper Industries (now Roper Technologies) in a variety of operating, financial and strategic roles. Mr. Hix served on the board of ESAB Corporation (NYSE: ESAB) from 2021 through 2024. Mr. Hix has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Southern California and a master of business administration from St. Mary’s College of California. He brings to the company extensive knowledge and background in finance and global business operations from his past experiences as the CFO of public companies.

Vineet Nargolwala

Mr. Nargolwala was elected to the Board of Directors in 2022. He serves as a member of the Finance and Management Development and Compensation committees. Mr. Nargolwala is President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALGM) and has been in these roles since June 2022. Prior to joining Allegro, Mr. Nargolwala was with Sensata Technologies from 2013 to June 2022, most recently serving as the Executive Vice President, Sensing Solutions, from March 2020 to June 2022. Before joining Sensata, he was with Honeywell International, Inc., in business strategy and leadership roles of increasing responsibility. Mr. Nargolwala has a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Maharaja Sayajirao University, a master of science in electrical engineering from the University of Texas-Arlington and a master in business administration from Cornell University. Mr. Nargolwala’s extensive experience in high-technology global business and strong leadership skills, provides the Board with important expertise in product and services innovation.

Bradley C. Richardson

Mr. Richardson was elected to the Board of Directors in 2007 and became Chairman of the Board in May 2021. He serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors and the Chair of the Audit Committee and is a member of the Corporate Governance, Finance and Management Development and Compensation Committees. He served as the Executive Vice President and CFO of Avient Corporation from 2013 through 2020. He previously served as the Executive Vice President and CFO of Diebold, Inc. and as Executive Vice President Corporate Strategy and CFO of Modine Manufacturing. Prior to Modine, he spent 21 years with BP Amoco serving in various financial and operational roles. Mr. Richardson has served on the boards of Modine Manufacturing and Tronox, Inc. In 2023, Mr. Richardson was elected to the Board of Directors of Virco Mfg. Corporation (NASDAQ: VIRC). Mr. Richardson has a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics from Miami University and a master of business administration in accounting and finance from Indiana University. He brings to the Company extensive knowledge and global experience in the areas of operations, strategy, accounting, tax accounting and finance, which are areas of critical importance to the Company as a global company.

 

Russell Shaller

Mr. Shaller joined the Company in 2015 and has served on the Company’s Board of Directors and as the Company’s President and CEO since April 2022 after serving as the Company’s Senior Vice President and President - Identification Solutions from 2015 to 2022. From 2008 to 2015, he served as President, Teledyne Microwave Solutions. Before joining Teledyne, Mr. Shaller held a number of positions of increasing responsibility at W.L. Gore & Associates, including Division Leader, Electronic Products Division from 2003 to 2008 and General Manager of Gore Photonics from 2001 to 2003. Prior to joining W.L. Gore in 1993, Mr. Shaller worked in engineering and program management positions at Westinghouse Corporation. In 2023, Mr. Shaller was elected to the Board of Directors of Quaker Houghton (NYSE: KWR). Mr. Shaller holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan, a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Johns Hopkins University and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Delaware.

Dr. Michelle E. Williams

Dr. Williams was elected to the Board of Directors in 2019. She is Chairperson of the Technology Committee, the ESG Liaison and a member of the Management Development and Compensation and Corporate Governance Committees. She served as Global Group President of Altuglas International, a subsidiary of Arkema S.A., through May 2021. Prior to joining Arkema in 2011, she spent 23 years with Rohm and Haas Company and Dow Chemical in manufacturing, commercial, strategy and general management positions. She was General Manager, Chemical Mechanical Polishing Technologies, and later, General Manager, Adhesives and Sealants. In 2023, Dr. Williams was elected to the Board of Directors of Cabot Corporation (NYSE: CBT). Dr. Williams’ experience in commercial, technology and business leadership roles provides the Board with important expertise in innovation, new product development and operations.