ADTRAN Holdings has expanded its board from seven directors to eight, appointing Christian H. Terlinde as an independent director effective October 27. The appointment adds a director with senior finance experience at multinational manufacturers in Europe and North America.
- Board change: The board unanimously approved the expansion and Terlinde’s appointment. He qualifies as independent under Nasdaq listing standards.
- Relevant experience: Terlinde is currently group CFO of Flender International, a manufacturer of industrial and wind gearboxes. He previously served as group CFO of publicly traded German manufacturer JOST Werke and as CFO of automotive suppliers Benteler Automotive and MAHLE, as well as ista North America.
- International and accounting background: He has worked in both the United States and Germany, holds a doctorate in business administration from the University of Duisburg-Essen, and has taught U.S., international and German accounting standards. He also serves on the examination board for German certified public accountants.
- Compensation and ties: Terlinde will receive compensation under ADTRAN’s standard arrangements for non-employee directors. The company said there are no related-party transactions involving him and no arrangement with another person that led to his selection.
The appointment adds financial and international operating experience to ADTRAN’s board. No other board or management changes were announced.