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. She has an extensive background in ESG, risk, compliance, and legal.
Her industry experience includes consumer and commercial financing; consumer products manufacturing; automotive components; and construction. Her thought leadership on strategic matters is valued and trusted by management and the Tenneco Board of Directors. She is adept at navigating dynamic landscapes in a manner that protects shareholders and supports management and the Board.
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 was the Chief Environmental, Social and Governance Officer of the company, a position created by the CEO based on her proposed ESG strategy. She was elevated to the Executive Leadership Team and the company is now in the top-quartile in its industry.
Newsweek recognized Tenneco twice as one of America’s Most Responsible Companies, and Sustainalytics scores improved 35%. She also enhanced Tenneco’s brand by building a world-class compliance program based on company values, earning “Compliance Program of the Year” and Ethisphere’s “World’s Most Ethical Companies®” designation twice.
Ms. Yapchai’s strategic skills were honed through her legal experience. Her international experience includes successfully navigating issues regarding the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). Prior to Tenneco, she achieved Ethisphere’s WME designation after integrating acquisitions in Europe and China as Chief Compliance Officer at Whirlpool, the world’s largest appliance manufacturer (NYSE; $20B; 93,000 employees; 50 countries).
Before Whirlpool, Ms. Yapchai held roles of increasing responsibility at Masco Corporation (NYSE; $7B; 30,000 employees; 20+ countries). At this dynamic, entrepreneurial conglomerate, Ms. Yapchai integrated hundreds of companies after acquisitions. Masco’s portfolio included plumbing, paint, fasteners, windows, automotive, furniture, and insulation installation.
Ms. Yapchai’s last role at Masco was Assistant General Counsel, responsible for key customer relationships, the compliance program, and oversight of the retail-channel legal team.
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. At Ford, she received awards for her collaborative initiative to expand commercial opportunities and for her ability to increase the efficiency of business processes.
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 was also a member of the Board of Tenneco’s captive insurance subsidiary.
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 ESG, leadership, 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 the DirectWomen International Board Committee.