Company: IONQ
Filing Date: 2025-04-28
Form Type: DEF 14A
Source: 0000950170-25-059289
Chunk: 18

Company: IonQ, Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-04-28
Form: DEF 14A
Chunk 18
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 position as our Executive Chair.

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In making these determinations, our board of directors considered the current and prior relationships that each non-employee director has with our Company and all other facts and circumstances that our board of directors deemed relevant in determining their independence, including the beneficial ownership of our capital stock by each non-employee director, and the transactions involving them described in the section titled “Related Person Transactions.”

There are no family relationships among any of our directors, director nominees or executive officers.

Leadership Structure

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines specify that the board of directors will select our Chief Executive Officer and Chair of the Board in the manner that it determines to be in the best interests of our stockholders and in accordance with any stockholder agreements. We do not believe there should be a fixed rule regarding whether the Chair of the Board should be an employee of the Company or should be elected from among the non-employee directors. The needs of our Company and the individuals available to assume these roles may require different outcomes at different times, and the board of directors believes that retaining flexibility in these decisions is in the best interests of our Company. The role of Chair of the Board is currently held by Peter Chapman and the role of Lead Independent Director of the board of directors is currently held by Inder M. Singh.

Pursuant to its charter, the nominating and corporate governance committee periodically reviews this matter and makes recommendations to the board of directors.

Role of Lead Independent Director

We believe that the structure of our board of directors, with Mr. de Masi acting as President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Chapman acting as Executive Chair, and Mr. Singh acting as lead independent director, and with fully independent audit, compensation, and nominating and corporate governance committees that oversee the majority of the Company’s operations, risks, performance, and strategy, provides the most effective governance framework and allows us to benefit from Messrs. de Masi and Chapman’s talent, knowledge, and experience as leaders of the Company, while maintaining effective independent oversight of management. This structure creates accountability and enhances our ability to develop and execute our strategy and communicate our message clearly and consistently to stockholders.

Executive Chair

Mr. Chapman serves as the Executive Chair of our board of directors. As our former President and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Chapman possesses detailed and in-depth knowledge of the issues, opportunities and challenges facing our Company and business, which enables him to effectively lead our board of directors, including by identifying strategic priorities, leading critical discussions