Independent Director Since: 2026

Ms. Ace is a seasoned global executive leader with more than 20 years of experience aligning human capital, operations and capital deployment with long term business strategy. She has held senior leadership roles at complex, multinational organizations where she partnered closely with boards and executive teams to drive enterprise transformation and support sustained value creation. Her experience as a former attorney further strengthens her perspective on governance and compliance, which is particularly valuable in PENN’s regulated operating environment.

Ms. Ace has a BA in Law & Society from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a JD from Santa Clara School of Law. 

Key Skills and Expertise

• Human Capital / Talent Management: As Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of Qualcomm, Ms. Ace oversees the global workforce of ~50,000 employees and advises senior leadership on enterprise transformation, operating model design, executive compensation, leadership development and employee engagement. Her scope includes responsibility for aligning organizational structure and incentives with business strategy and long term performance objectives. 
  
   
• Strategic Planning / M&A: Ms. Ace has extensive experience with corporate transactions from strategy planning through execution. As Director of Human Resources, M&A at Life Technologies, she guided due diligence, contract negotiations and integration planning across all transactions. At Volcano Corporation, she served as Business Integration Leader for the company’s $1.2 billion acquisition by Royal Phillips (NYSE: PHG), overseeing enterprise-wide integration efforts and the execution of cost synergies during the critical first year post-merger. 


• Risk Management: Developed through her numerous executive leadership roles at global companies, Ms. Ace contributes deep expertise in enterprise risk management, including identifying and mitigating operational, regulatory and compliance risks. Her background as a partner at a legal advisory firm, where she practiced litigation and employment law, specializing in mergers and acquisitions, provides her with a deep understanding of regulatory frameworks and governance practices. 

Career Highlights

• Qualcomm Incorporated (Nasdaq: QCOM) – A global semiconductor manufacturing company.
  • Chief Human Resources Officer and EVP, Human Resources (since 2020)

• Dexcom, Inc. (Nasdaq: DXCM) – A medical device company  
  • Chief Human Resources Officer & VP Human Resources (2016-2020)

• Orexigen Therapeutics – A pharmaceutical company  
  • Chief Human Resources Officer & EVP Global Human Resources (2016)

• Volcano Corporation – A global medical device company (former Nasdaq: VOLC) 
  • Business Integration Leader (2015-2016)
  • Chief Human Resources Officer & EVP Global Human Resources (2016-2015)

• Life Technologies Corporation – A leading life sciences company (former Nasdaq: LIFE) 
  • VP, HR Life Sciences (2011-2012)
  • Roles of increasing scope and responsibility (2004-2011)

• Gray Cary Ware & Freidenrich LLP – A law firm (acquired by DLA Piper in 2005) 
  • Employment Law Partner / Associate (1996-2004)

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