SAN FRANCISCO, CA, Apr 25, 2025 – Autodesk has announced that it will appoint Jeff Epstein and Christie Simons to its Board of Directors in connection with a cooperation agreement with Starboard Value LP. Epstein and Simons will serve as non-voting observers on the Board until Autodesk’s 2025 annual meeting of stockholders on June 18, 2025, at which point they will gain voting rights upon Board appointment. Following the annual meeting, the Autodesk Board will be comprised of 12 directors, 11 of whom are independent.
“Jeff and Christie are both exceptional leaders who bring a wealth of technology, finance and audit expertise,” said Stacy J. Smith, chairman of the Autodesk board of directors. “Jeff’s proven leadership and oversight of financial operations and extensive public board service, coupled with Christie’s deep experience advising global technology companies, will further strengthen the skillset of our Board. Their insights will be valuable as we continue to execute our industry cloud, platform and AI strategies to deliver strong business performance and create shareholder value. We are pleased to add Jeff and Christie as part of our ongoing board enhancement and to have reached a constructive agreement with Starboard, which we believe is in the best interest of Autodesk shareholders.”
“We invested in Autodesk based on our belief that it is a pioneer in design software with an opportunity to improve profitability and create significant value. We appreciate the constructive dialogue we have had with the Board and management team, and we are excited about the appointment of Jeff and Christie to the Board,” said Jeff Smith, managing member, chief executive officer, and chief investment officer of Starboard. “Jeff and Christie will bring valuable perspectives to Autodesk’s Board, helping oversee the Company’s strategy to drive enhanced profitability. We look forward to our continued engagement with Autodesk’s Board and management team towards our collective goal of long-term shareholder value creation.”
Jeff Epstein is an operating partner and head of corporate development at Bessemer Venture Partners. He leads the CFO council and advises portfolio companies across Bessemer’s $20 billion portfolio on finance and strategy. He is the former EVP and CFO of Oracle, where he managed global finance, valued at over $150 billion. Jeff has also served as CFO of several public and private companies, including DoubleClick and Nielsen’s Media Measurement and Information Group. Jeff currently serves on the boards of Twilio, where he has been Chair since 2024, Okta, AvePoint, and Couchbase. He previously served on the boards of Shutterstock, Poshmark, and Booking Holdings. During his time at Booking Holdings, the company’s market value grew from $1 billion to $80 billion. Jeff holds a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and an MBA from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.
Christie Simons brings over 30 years of audit experience, specializing in global technology clients. She spent 20 years as a senior partner at Deloitte, where she held several leadership roles. These included leading Deloitte’s global semiconductor center of excellence, managing the U.S. Technology, Media & Telecommunications (TMT) audit & assurance practice, developing the emerging growth company practice in San Francisco, and leading the global offerings services group in Taiwan. Christie currently serves on the board of directors at Micron Technology. She has also served as chair of the California Society of CPAs and as an audit committee member for the American leadership forum in silicon valley. Additionally, she has held board positions with the Association for Corporate Growth and Watermark, an organization for executive women. Christie holds a bachelor’s degree in International Business and Finance from the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business.
Source: Autodesk
About Autodesk
Autodesk, founded in 1982, is a software corporation headquartered in San Francisco, CA, known for its industry-leading design and engineering software solutions. The company offers specialized software products such as AutoCAD, Revit, Fusion 360, Maya, and Inventor, catering to diverse sectors, including architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media, entertainment, and automotive industries. Autodesk employs approximately 15,300 people worldwide. Autodesk provides professionals with advanced tools for designing, visualizing, simulating, and creating sophisticated projects, including buildings, infrastructure, automotive components, and digital entertainment content. Serving millions of users globally across 180 countries, Autodesk supports industries like architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, media, and entertainment by utilizing cutting-edge, cloud-based technology to enhance collaboration and simplify project management processes.