Aaron Wasserman
About Aaron Wasserman
Aaron Wasserman (year of birth: 1974) serves as Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) of BlackRock Enhanced Equity Dividend Trust (BDJ) and other BlackRock‑advised funds; he has been CCO since 2023 and a Managing Director of BlackRock, Inc. since 2018, after serving as Deputy CCO for the BlackRock‑advised funds from 2014–2023 . He is designated an “interested person” by virtue of his BlackRock role, is based at 50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY, and is the only executive officer of the Funds directly compensated by the Funds (other executive officers are compensated by BlackRock) . Compliance oversight and the determination of the CCO’s compensation are handled by an Independent‑Board‑member‑led Compliance Committee as part of the Boards’ governance structure; no CCO performance metrics, targets, or pay outcomes are disclosed in the proxy .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| BlackRock‑advised Funds (Multi‑Asset, Fixed‑Income, iShares Complexes) | Deputy Chief Compliance Officer | 2014–2023 | Senior compliance leadership across multiple fund complexes supporting regulatory program design and oversight . |
External Roles
No external directorships or outside board roles are disclosed for Wasserman in BDJ’s proxy filings .
Fixed Compensation
- Structure and payer: With the exception of the CCO, executive officers receive no compensation from the Funds; the Funds compensate the CCO for services as CCO .
- Oversight: The Compliance Committee (Independent Board Members) oversees the CCO, conducts the annual performance review, and determines the amount and structure of the CCO’s compensation; the Funds do not have a separate compensation committee because only the CCO is compensated by the Funds .
- Disclosure status: The proxy does not disclose specific CCO compensation amounts (base salary, bonus, or equity), targets, or payout results for BDJ .
Performance Compensation
- No specific performance metrics, weights, targets, or payout formulas tied to the CCO’s compensation are disclosed in BDJ’s proxy; the Compliance Committee determines structure and amount without published metric detail .
Equity Ownership & Alignment
- Beneficial ownership: Officer share ownership for BDJ’s executive officers is not disclosed in the proxy (equity ownership tables cover Board Members/Nominees, not executive officers) .
- Section 16 compliance: Funds report that Section 16 insiders met filing requirements for the most recent fiscal year, with noted late filings for certain individuals at other funds; no BDJ‑specific late filings are attributed to Wasserman .
- Pledging/hedging: No disclosures regarding pledging or hedging by the CCO are provided in BDJ’s proxy .
Employment Terms
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| Title | Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) |
| Appointment | Annual; serving since 2023 |
| Status | “Interested person” due to BlackRock affiliation |
| Reporting/Oversight | Reports to and is overseen by the Boards; Compliance Committee reviews performance and determines compensation |
| Board governance context | Independent Chair and committee chairs; no separate compensation committee since only the CCO is compensated by the Funds |
| Location | c/o BlackRock, Inc., 50 Hudson Yards, New York, NY 10001 |
Additional Context and Filings
- Governance infrastructure: BDJ’s Boards maintain seven standing committees (including Compliance), with Independent Board Members meeting regularly and conducting oversight across risk and compliance functions .
- Section 16 administration: BlackRock’s internal compliance/legal infrastructure includes powers of attorney authorizing designated individuals (including Aaron Wasserman) to execute Forms 3/4/5 on behalf of insiders at BlackRock closed‑end funds, underscoring the centralization of reporting controls .
Investment Implications
- Pay‑for‑performance linkage: There is no disclosed equity or TSR‑linked incentive structure for the CCO; compensation is determined by the Compliance Committee without published performance metrics, which limits direct alignment with BDJ’s market returns and reduces equity‑related selling pressure risk from vesting events .
- Governance and risk oversight: Independent oversight of the CCO’s compensation and annual performance by the Compliance Committee, within a governance structure that separates the Independent Chair from the CEO, supports control integrity and mitigates compliance and operational risk for the Fund .
- Retention and transition risk: Annual appointment since 2023 and Managing Director status at BlackRock provide organizational stability; no severance, change‑of‑control, non‑compete, or retention bonus terms are disclosed for the CCO, leaving limited visibility into exit economics but also no red flags disclosed (e.g., tax gross‑ups, accelerated vesting) .
Data gaps: The proxy does not disclose CCO compensation amounts, performance metrics, vesting schedules, severance/change‑of‑control provisions, or officer share ownership for Wasserman. All conclusions above are limited to the disclosures cited.
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