Sandra E. Peterson — Board Member Accountability Profile
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Sandra E. Peterson — Board Member Accountability Profile

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Sandra E. Peterson — Board Member Accountability Profile

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Category: Private Citizen — Corporate Director Role: Independent Director & Lead Independent Director, Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) Board Tenure: 2015 – present Committee Memberships: Compensation Committee; Governance and Nominating Committee (Chair); Lead Independent Director Profile Type: Board Member Accountability — Anchor B (Documented Organizational Leadership)

> Basis for Inclusion: Sandra E. Peterson holds a documented governance role as Lead Independent Director and chair of the Governance and Nominating Committee of Microsoft Corporation, which made documented political donations to Trump-aligned entities while the corporation faced regulatory and policy decisions directly affecting its financial interests. As Lead Independent Director, Peterson holds the highest governance oversight role among Microsoft’s independent directors, with responsibility for board structure, director selection, and governance practices. 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: Peterson’s personal political opinions, party affiliation, public statements, or any protected speech are NOT the basis for inclusion. The basis is solely the documented directorial role and its fiduciary connection to corporate political spending documented in the parent corporate donor profile.

Biographical Overview

Sandra E. Peterson is an Operating Partner at Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, a private equity firm. She previously served as Group Worldwide Chair on the Johnson & Johnson Executive Committee from 2012 to 2018, where she led the consumer, pharmaceutical, and medical devices businesses globally. Prior to J&J, she was CEO of Bayer CropScience and EVP/President of Bayer HealthCare Medical Care, and held senior roles at Medco Health Solutions.

Peterson is recognized as one of the most experienced independent directors in the technology sector. As Lead Independent Director at Microsoft, she chairs the independent director sessions, serves as the primary liaison between the board and management, and oversees CEO succession planning. Her governance role gives her direct oversight over Microsoft’s corporate strategy and risk management.

She holds a B.S. from Cornell University and an MBA from Cornell’s Johnson Graduate School of Management.

Board Role and Governance Authority

  • Company: Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT)
  • Board tenure: 2015 – present
  • Role: Lead Independent Director (highest governance role among independent directors)
  • Committee assignments: Compensation Committee; Governance and Nominating Committee (Chair)
  • Key governance function: Chairs executive sessions of independent directors; board-management liaison; CEO succession oversight

Other Current Board Memberships

  • Conduct detailed research via SEC EDGAR for current concurrent public company board seats

Parent Corporate Donor Profile

This profile is a governance-accountability companion to the Microsoft corporate donor profile, which documents the corporation’s political spending, pending government business, and favorable outcomes under the Trump administration.

Sources

  • Microsoft Corporation DEF 14A Proxy Statement, filed October 21, 2025 (annual meeting December 5, 2025)
  • SEC EDGAR filing: Microsoft Corporation (CIK 789019)
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