Denise R. Singleton (f/k/a Denise R. Cade) is presently Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary at WestRock Company (NYSE:WRK), a Fortune 200 company that is a leading provider of sustainable paper and packaging solutions. In this role, she leads all legal, regulatory, compliance, environmental, government affairs and corporate governance matters.
Denise serves on the Board of Directors of Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX), a Fortune 50 company, and is a member of the Audit and Finance Committee and the Public Policy and Sustainability Committee. Phillips 66 is a diversified energy manufacturing and logistics company with a portfolio of Midstream, Chemicals, Refining and Marketing and Specialties businesses.
In addition, Denise is a member of the Board of Directors of Teledyne Technologies Inc. (NYSE:TDY), sitting on the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Governance Committee. Teledyne is an S&P 500 leading manufacturer of sophisticated instrumentation, digital imaging products and software, aerospace and defense electronics, and engineered systems.
Recently, Denise was named a 2022 Director to Watch by Directors & Boards magazine. Further, she was named one of the 2021 Most Influential Black Corporate Directors by Savoy magazine, received the Marquette University 2021 Professional Achievement Award and received the Georgetown Law 2020 Paul R. Dean Award for leadership to Georgetown Law and the legal profession. In 2020, WomenInc. magazine named Denise to its 2019 Most Influential Corporate Board Directors list and Savoy magazine named her one of the 2020 Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America. In 2019, she was named one of the Most Powerful Women in Corporate America by Black Enterprise magazine and was included in The Legal 500 GC Powerlist that consists of the most influential in-house lawyers in business. In 2018 and 2015, Denise was named one of the Most Influential Black Lawyers by Savoy magazine.
Ms. Singleton sits on the Georgetown Law Board of Visitors. She is also a member of The Executive Leadership Council and The Chicago Network, where she was most recently Chair of the Board.
For over six years before joining WestRock in February 2022, Denise was Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at IDEX Corporation (NYSE:IEX), an S&P 500 global manufacturer specializing in fluid and metering technologies, health and science technologies, and fire, safety and other diversified products, including the Jaws of Life® rescue tools. In this role, she led all legal, regulatory, compliance, information security/cybersecurity, ESG and corporate governance matters. Prior to joining IDEX in 2015, Denise was senior vice president, general counsel, corporate secretary and chief compliance officer for SunCoke Energy, Inc. (NYSE:SXC) and its controlled company, SunCoke Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE:SXCP), for nearly five years. Additionally, Denise was a member of the SXCP Board of Directors. From 2005 to 2011, Denise was with PPG Industries, Inc., most recently as assistant general counsel, securities and finance, and corporate secretary. While there she also served as chief mergers and acquisition counsel and general counsel for the Glass and Fiber Glass Division.
Denise began her legal career in private practice, specializing in corporate and securities law matters and corporate transactions. She was a partner at Shaw Pittman LLP in Washington, D.C., before her move to PPG. Denise received a JD from Georgetown University Law Center and a BA in journalism from Marquette University.
Denise devotes time to organizations that prioritize the professional development and advancement of women and people of color, including The Chicago Network; 50/50 Women on Boards; The Executive Leadership Council; and the Georgetown Law Board of Visitors.
