Company: IONQ
Filing Date: 2025-04-28
Form Type: DEF 14A
Source: 0000950170-25-059289
Chunk: 19

Company: IonQ, Inc.
Filing Date: 2025-04-28
Form: DEF 14A
Chunk 19
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 and executing our business plans. We believe Mr. Chapman’s extensive Company-specific experience and expertise, together with the outside experience, oversight and expertise of our lead independent director and the independent directors on our board of directors and committees, allow for differing perspectives and roles regarding strategy development that benefit our stockholders.

Lead Independent Director and Independent Committees

Because Mr. de Masi serves as our President and Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Chapman serves as our Executive Chair, they are not “independent” directors under the listing standards of the NYSE, and our board of directors has approved the appointment of Mr. Singh to serve as our lead independent director. Our board of directors believes that Mr. Singh provides an effective independent voice in our leadership structure.

The lead independent director position is a critical aspect of our corporate governance framework. Our board of directors believes that having a lead independent director enhances communications and relations among our board of directors. In addition to generally serving as a liaison between Messrs. de Masi and Chapman and our independent directors, the responsibilities of the lead independent director includes:

presiding over executive sessions of independent directors, at which the Executive Chair is not present;

advising the Executive Chair as to an appropriate schedule of meetings of the board of directors, ensuring that the independent directors can perform their duties responsibly while not interfering with ongoing Company operations;

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providing input to the Executive Chair with respect to the agendas for meetings of the board of directors and its committees;

advising the Executive Chair on the retention of advisors and consultants who report directly to the board of directors;

receiving messages from major stockholders wishing to communicate directly with the independent directors and facilitating an appropriate response;

facilitating discussions among independent directors on key issues and concerns outside of meetings of the board of directors; and

having such other duties as the board of directors may delegate to assist in meeting its responsibilities.

Only independent directors serve on the audit committee, the compensation committee, and the nominating and corporate governance committee, which we believe provides strong independent leadership and oversight for each of these committees. As a result of the board of directors’ committee system and the existence of a majority of independent directors on the board of directors, the board of directors maintains effective oversight of our business operations, including independent oversight of our financial statements, executive compensation, selection of director candidates and corporate governance programs.

Risk Oversight of the Board of Directors

One of the key functions of the board of directors is informed oversight of our risk management process. In particular,