Kim Yapchai is an accomplished C-suite leader with almost 30 years of experience in multinational public companies where she spent ~10 years working with Boards of Directors and committees during transformational periods. She has served on the Board of a captive insurance company and more than five years on non-profit boards. She has an extensive background in ESG, risk, compliance, supply chain, and legal.
Ms. Yapchai has integrated more than 20 acquisitions valued at over $15 billion, in addition to focusing on due diligence, and completed a $7.2 billion sale to private equity. Her industry experience includes financing; manufacturing (consumer products and automotive components); real estate; utility services; and construction. She is adept at navigating dynamic landscapes in a manner that protects shareholders and supports management.
Ms. Yapchai successfully applied her strong leadership skills and broad manufacturing experience in multiple roles at Tenneco (NYSE; $15B revenue; 73,000 employees; 20 countries). Tenneco is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of automotive products. Tenneco purchased Federal-Mogul from a major shareholder activist whose company held a board seat until 2021. Ms. Yapchai built Tenneco’s ESG strategy which elevated the company to the top-quartile in its industry and improved Sustainalytics scores 35%.
Ms. Yapchai led enterprise efforts to achieve Ethisphere’s “World’s Most Ethical Companies®” at both Tenneco and Whirlpool, the world’s largest appliance manufacturer (NYSE; $20B; 93,000 employees; 50 countries). She also honed her strategic skills through her legal experience, including successfully navigating issues regarding the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
Ms. Yapchai’s M&A experience began at Masco Corporation (NYSE; $7B; 30,000 employees; 20+ countries). At this dynamic, entrepreneurial conglomerate, Ms. Yapchai integrated hundreds of companies after acquisitions and led negotiations in key customer relationships. Starting her career at Ford Motor Credit Company, a subsidiary of Ford Motor Company (NYSE), Ms. Yapchai specialized in the regulated industry of consumer and commercial financing.
As an executive leader, Ms. Yapchai presented frequently to the Board, Audit Committee, and Nominating and Governance Committee. Her experience and skills would make her an asset for any Audit, Risk, Nominating & Governance, or an ESG committee. She co-chairs the International Board committee for DirectWomen, a non-profit preparing women to sit on corporate boards.
Ms. Yapchai’s recognitions include Top Mind by Compliance Week Magazine, the Salute to Excellence Award by the Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce, and the Transformational Leadership – Visionary Leader by Inside Counsel Magazine. Ms. Yapchai is a sought-after speaker on topics relating to leadership, change management, ESG, and ethics.
After graduating with honors from the University of Michigan with a B.A. in Economics, Ms. Yapchai pursued her interest in business by combining it with a J.D. cum laude from Wayne State University Law School, where she was a Wayne Law Review editor.
Ms. Yapchai is Asian American and volunteers her time to mentor many women and minorities. She promotes diversity through the National Asian Pacific Bar Association and DirectWomen.