Brian Hirsch
About Brian Hirsch
Brian Hirsch is an independent director at ACV Auctions and a Co‑Founder and Managing Partner of Tribeca Venture Partners (formed in 2011). He has been a venture capitalist and early-stage tech investor for over 26 years, previously founding and serving as Managing Director of Greenhill SAVP (2006–2011). He holds a B.A. in economics and American studies from Brandeis University; age 51; director since 2016 . The Board affirmatively determined he is independent under NYSE and SEC standards .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tribeca Venture Partners | Co‑Founder & Managing Partner | 2011–present | Leads investments across marketplaces, fintech, SaaS, edtech, consumer |
| Greenhill SAVP (VC arm of Greenhill & Co.) | Founder & Managing Director | 2006–2011 | Early-stage tech investing leadership |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Public/Private | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Katapult Holdings, Inc. (KPLT) | Director | Public | Only public company board; also serves on numerous private tech company boards |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Compensation Committee member (not Chair). The Compensation Committee met 6 times in 2024; committee members are independent .
- Independence: Board deemed Hirsch independent; overall, 6 of 7 directors are independent (86%) .
- Attendance: Directors attended 100% of Board and committee meetings in 2024 .
- Tenure/class: Director since August 2016; Class II director continuing in office until the 2026 annual meeting .
- Board leadership & executive sessions: Independent Chair (Robert Goodman); non‑management directors meet regularly in executive session .
- Compensation governance: Committee uses independent consultant (Compensia) and meets in executive session; no compensation committee interlocks or insider participation were disclosed .
- Shareholder engagement/governance evolution: The Board has begun implementing director/executive ownership guidelines and intends to formalize over‑boarding rules .
Fixed Compensation
| Metric (2024) | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | 38,500 | |
| Stock Awards ($) | 165,009 | |
| Total ($) | 203,509 |
Non‑employee director compensation policy (structure):
| Type | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Board Retainer | $33,500 | |
| Compensation Committee Member Retainer | $5,000 | |
| Compensation Committee Chair Retainer (if Chair; not applicable to Hirsch) | $12,000 | |
| Initial RSU (upon joining) | $330,000 grant‑date fair value | |
| Annual Refresher RSU | $165,000 grant‑date fair value |
Notes:
- Hirsch’s 2024 cash fees equal Board retainer + Compensation Committee member retainer ($33,500 + $5,000 = $38,500) .
- Directors may elect to receive cash retainers as RSUs; none of the current non‑employee directors have done so .
Performance Compensation
- Non‑employee director equity is time‑based RSUs; there are no performance‑conditioned director awards (no PSU framework for directors) .
- As of 12/31/2024, Hirsch held 9,239 RSUs outstanding; no stock options .
Applicable performance metrics for director pay:
| Metric | Applies to Non‑Employee Directors? | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Performance stock units (PSUs) | No (director equity is time‑based RSUs) |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Committee Roles | Interlocks / Related Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Katapult Holdings, Inc. (KPLT) | Director | Not disclosed in ACVA proxy | ACVA discloses no compensation committee interlocks; Hirsch’s only public company board |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Venture capital and board advisory experience across marketplaces, fintech, SaaS, edtech, and consumer businesses; provides guidance to a variety of technology companies .
- Education: B.A. in economics and American studies, Brandeis University .
- Board attributes: strategy and oversight experience; independent status; service on Compensation Committee .
Equity Ownership
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total Beneficial Ownership | 1,872,026 shares (1.1% of Class A outstanding as of Apr 2, 2025) | |
| Ownership Components | 1,397,090 shares via Tribeca Venture Fund II, L.P.; 465,697 shares via Tribeca Venture Fund II New York, L.P.; plus 9,239 RSUs scheduled to vest within 60 days | |
| Voting/Dispositive Control | Tribeca Venture Partners II GP, LLC is GP of the Tribeca Venture entities; Hirsch and Charles Meakem (managing partners) have voting/dispositive power over those shares | |
| Options | None reported for Hirsch | |
| Hedging/Pledging | Company policy prohibits hedging, derivative trading, short selling, margin purchases, and pledging by directors/officers/employees | |
| Director Ownership Guidelines | Board has begun implementation of share ownership guidelines for Board/executives |
Governance Assessment
- Alignment and pay mix: Approximately 81% of Hirsch’s 2024 director compensation was equity ($165,009 equity vs. $38,500 cash), aligning director incentives with shareholder outcomes .
- Independence and engagement: Independent director; 100% attendance; sits on an active Compensation Committee (6 meetings in 2024), with an independent consultant and no interlocks disclosed, supporting strong oversight .
- Ownership and policies: Meaningful beneficial ownership (1.1% via Tribeca funds and RSUs), combined with an anti‑hedging/anti‑pledging policy and forthcoming ownership guidelines, enhances alignment; no pledging allowed .
- Conflicts/related‑party exposure: ACVA’s related‑party transactions section discloses items involving the CEO’s family employment and a banking relationship tied to another director; there are no related‑party transactions disclosed involving Hirsch or Tribeca Venture Partners beyond beneficial ownership .
- Watch items: Hirsch holds leadership at an investing firm that is a significant ACVA shareholder (disclosed), which can create perceived conflicts in some situations; however, independence was affirmed and no related‑party transactions were reported. The Board plans to formalize over‑boarding rules, which is supportive of time‑commitment oversight given Hirsch’s numerous private board roles .
- Broader governance signals: Board maintains an independent chair; conducts executive sessions; and continues to evolve governance (e.g., sunset of dual‑class, ownership guidelines, enhanced performance‑linked executive pay), supporting investor confidence in oversight quality .