Martin Brand
BumbleAbout Martin Brand
Martin Brand (age 50) has served as a Class I director of Bumble Inc. since August 1, 2024; he is Head of North America Private Equity and Global Co‑Head of Technology Investing at Blackstone. He previously worked as a derivatives trader at Goldman Sachs (New York and Tokyo, 1998–2000) and at McKinsey & Company (London, 2000–2001). He holds a BA/MA in Mathematics and Computation (First Class Honors) from Oxford University (1998) and an MBA from Harvard Business School (2003) .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackstone | Head of North America Private Equity; Global Co‑Head of Technology Investing | 2003–present | Strategic leadership in PE and tech investing |
| Goldman Sachs | Derivatives Trader (NY/Tokyo) | Aug 1998–Jun 2000 | Trading experience |
| McKinsey & Company | Consultant (London) | 2000–2001 | Strategy consulting |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| London Stock Exchange Group | Director | Current | Capital markets experience |
| UKG Software | Director | Current | Workforce/HR tech; interlock with former BMBL director Jennifer Morgan (now UKG CEO) |
| Liftoff Mobile | Director | Current | Ad/marketing tech |
| First Eagle | Director | Current | Asset management |
| American Academy Berlin | Trustee | Current | Non‑profit governance |
Board Governance
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Board Class/Term | Class I; appointed Aug 1, 2024; nominated for re‑election in 2025 to a term expiring at the 2028 Annual Meeting |
| Committee Assignments | None at appointment; no committee listed in 2025 proxy |
| Independence | Board affirmatively determined Brand is independent under Nasdaq listing standards, including for committee service |
| Attendance & Engagement | In 2024, Board held 5 meetings; Audit & Risk 6; Compensation 4; Nominating & Corporate Governance 2. All directors attended ≥75% of applicable meetings during their service |
| Executive Sessions | Non‑management directors held four executive sessions; independent directors not affiliated with Sponsor held three sessions in 2024 |
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Policy | Brand (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Board Retainer | $75,000 for non‑chair; $300,000 for chair (effective Jan 1, 2024) | $0; directors appointed by Blackstone do not receive company compensation |
| Committee Chair Retainer | $50,000 for Audit & Risk, Compensation, and Nominating & Governance chairs | N/A (no chair role) |
| Committee Membership Retainer | Audit & Risk $20,000; Compensation $15,000; Nominating & Governance $10,000; Special Committee $25,000 (prorated) | N/A (no committees) |
| 2024 Director Comp Table (Brand) | Fees Earned or Paid in Cash; Stock Awards; Total | $0; $0; $0 |
Performance Compensation
| Equity Component | Policy | Brand (Status) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual RSU Grant | $250,000 grant‑date value each annual meeting; one‑year vest or next annual meeting | Not eligible (Blackstone‑appointed directors excluded) |
| Initial RSU Grant | $250,000 grant‑date value upon first appointment; vests over 3 years | Not eligible (Blackstone‑appointed directors excluded) |
| Outstanding Equity Awards (as of 12/31/2024) | Time‑Vesting Incentive Units; Exit‑Vesting Incentive Units; RSUs | None (—/—/—) |
No director performance metrics (TSR, revenue, EBITDA, ESG) apply to Brand’s compensation because he does not receive Bumble director pay or equity as a Blackstone‑appointed director .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
- UKG interlock: Brand sits on UKG’s board; Jennifer B. Morgan resigned from Bumble’s board after becoming UKG’s CEO. Bumble disclosed her resignation was not due to any disagreement, and Brand’s appointment filled her vacancy under the Stockholders Agreement designation rights .
- Concentrated sponsor influence: Bumble’s Stockholders Agreement grants Blackstone rights to designate directors, observers, and to consent to board size changes; nominees are “assured election” given Blackstone and Founder voting power .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Strategic leadership, technology investing, financial expertise, international business; Board’s skills matrix shows Brand contributes across senior leadership, industry knowledge, technology, finance, board experience, and global business .
- Qualifications cited by Board: extensive strategic, financial, and leadership experience; deep experience investing in tech companies .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Class A Shares | % of Class A | Common Units | % of Common Units | Combined Voting Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Brand | — | — | — | — | — |
| Blackstone | 30,116,110 | 29.2% | 23,961,274 | 16.0% | 64.7% |
| Parties to Stockholders Agreement (group) | 31,042,819 | 30.1% | 46,192,185 | 30.9% | 91.4% |
As of April 7, 2025, Brand reported no beneficial ownership of Bumble Class A or Common Units; Blackstone holds significant voting power via the Stockholders Agreement .
Governance Assessment
- Independence and conflicts: The Board determined Brand is independent under Nasdaq standards, despite his Blackstone employment. Bumble disclosed that Brand had no family relationships and no material related‑party transactions under Item 404(a) at appointment . However, sponsor rights and concentrated voting power present a structural governance risk where sponsor‑designated nominees are “assured election,” potentially diluting minority shareholder influence .
- Alignment: Brand receives no Bumble director cash or equity, and holds no Bumble shares, limiting direct pay‑for‑performance alignment with public shareholders (RED FLAG: low personal “skin‑in‑the‑game”) .
- Committee effectiveness: No committee assignments for Brand to date; independence determination covers committee service if assigned in future .
- Attendance/engagement: Board and committees met regularly in 2024; all directors met ≥75% attendance thresholds; executive sessions held, including sessions excluding sponsor‑affiliated directors—a mitigating governance practice .
RED FLAGS
- Sponsor influence and assured election under Stockholders Agreement .
- No Bumble equity ownership or director compensation for Brand, weakening direct shareholder alignment .
Positive Signals
- Formal independence determination; no Item 404(a) related‑party transactions; robust executive session practices; clear committee charters and meeting cadence .
Employment & Contracts
- Indemnification: Brand entered into Bumble’s standard director/officer indemnification agreement upon appointment .
Director Compensation Structure (Context)
| Policy Element (effective Jan 1, 2024) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Board Chair Retainer | $300,000 (cash) |
| Non‑Chair Director Retainer | $75,000 (cash) |
| Committee Chair Retainer | $50,000 (Audit/Comp/Nom‑Gov) |
| Committee Membership Retainers | Audit $20,000; Comp $15,000; Nom‑Gov $10,000; Special Committee $25,000 |
| Annual Director RSU Grant | $250,000 grant‑date value; vests by next annual meeting/1 year |
| Initial Director RSU Grant | $250,000; 3‑year annual vest |
| Blackstone‑Appointed Directors | Not compensated by Bumble |
Related Party & Stockholders Agreement Highlights
- Sponsor designation rights scale with ownership; rights include board observer, constraints on board size changes without sponsor consent, and ability to assign rights. Sponsor and Founder voting power materially influences director election outcomes .
Summary for Investors
- Brand adds deep PE and tech investing experience, but lack of Bumble equity and sponsor‑assured election dilute direct alignment and minority holder influence. Monitor any future committee assignments, changes to compensation eligibility, and potential interlocks (notably with UKG) for conflicts or enhanced oversight needs .