Sherry M. Smith — Board Member Accountability Profile
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Sherry M. Smith — Board Member Accountability Profile

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Sherry M. Smith — Board Member Accountability Profile

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Category: Private Citizen — Corporate Director Role: Lead Director and Independent Director, Deere & Company Board Tenure: 2011 – present Committee Memberships: Audit Review Committee; Corporate Governance Committee; Lead Director (since February 2024) Profile Type: Board Member Accountability — Anchor B (Documented Organizational Leadership)

> Basis for Inclusion: Sherry M. Smith holds a documented governance role at Deere & Company (John Deere), including the senior independent leadership role of Lead Director. Deere & Company (John Deere) is a major agricultural and construction equipment manufacturer that made documented political donations to Trump-aligned entities. Deere is significantly affected by federal agricultural policy, trade agreements, and farm income support programs. This profile documents the factual governance relationship, not the subject’s personal political views.

> Subject Classification: Private Citizen / Corporate Director. Board membership is a matter of public record (SEC filings, proxy statements). This profile documents only the governance role and its connection to documented corporate political activity.

> What is NOT the basis for inclusion: Sherry M. Smith’s personal political opinions, party affiliation, public statements, or any protected speech are NOT the basis for inclusion.

Biographical Overview

Sherry M. Smith served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of SuperValu Inc., one of the largest food wholesale and retail companies in the United States, before transitioning to her corporate director career. She joined the Deere & Company Board of Directors in 2011 and has become the most senior independent governance figure on the board. In February 2024, Smith was named Lead Director — the highest governance position for an independent director at Deere & Company — responsible for facilitating independent board oversight and serving as a primary liaison between the independent directors and company management. She serves on the Audit Review Committee and the Corporate Governance Committee. Her financial leadership background and over a decade of Deere board experience make her the board’s primary independent governance anchor.

Board Role and Governance Authority

  • Company: Deere & Company (NYSE: DE)
  • Board tenure: 2011 – present
  • Committee assignments: Audit Review Committee; Corporate Governance Committee
  • Senior board role: Lead Director (since February 2024)
  • Prior employer: SuperValu Inc. — Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
  • Significance: Longest-serving current independent director; senior independent governance leader

Parent Corporate Donor Profile

This profile is a governance-accountability companion to the John Deere corporate donor profile.

Sources

  • Deere & Company DEF 14A Proxy Statement, 2025; SEC EDGAR
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