Angela Acharia
BuzzFeedAbout Angela Acharia
Angela (Anjula) Acharia, age 53, has served as an independent director of BuzzFeed, Inc. since December 2021. She is founder and CEO of A‑Series Investments & Management, a management and investment vehicle, and previously co‑founded Desi Hits!, a multi‑platform media company; she also manages actress Priyanka Chopra. She holds a B.A. from Middlesex University and brings investment, consumer technology, and entertainment industry expertise to the board .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| A‑Series Investments & Management | Founder & CEO | Not disclosed | Talent strategist; investor/advisor to consumer tech and CPG companies |
| Desi Hits! | Co‑Founder | 2006 | Pioneered cultural fusion by introducing top-tier American artists to India |
| Forsyth Group | Senior Partner | Not disclosed | Executive search/strategy (as disclosed) |
| TMP Worldwide | Director | Not disclosed | Recruitment/operations (as disclosed) |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal management | Manager of Priyanka Chopra | Ongoing (not dated) | Strategic advisory/management |
No other public company directorships are disclosed for Ms. Acharia in BuzzFeed’s proxy materials .
Board Governance
| Item | Status | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Independence | Independent director | Determined by the Board under Nasdaq/SEC rules |
| Board tenure | Director since Dec 2021 | Class I director nominee in 2025 |
| Committee memberships (2025) | Compensation; Nominating, Corporate Governance & Corporate Responsibility | Member of both; not a chair |
| Special committee | Member | Special committee (Sept 2023) advising on material transactions: Coleman, Rothstein (Chair), Acharia |
| Lead Independent Director | Adam Rothstein | Presides over executive sessions; defined responsibilities |
| Attendance | Red flag | In 2024, each incumbent director attended >75% except Ms. Acharia |
| Board/committee activity (context) | Board met 25x in 2024; Audit 9x; Compensation 7x; Nominating 4x | Provides context for attendance expectations |
| Director election history | Initial appointment via Voting Agreement | Voting Agreement designated Coleman and Acharia among nominees; expired June 24, 2024 |
Fixed Compensation
Director compensation program (policy):
| Component | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|
| Annual retainer (non-employee directors) | $50,000 |
| Committee chair retainers | Audit $35,000; Compensation $25,000; Nominating $25,000 |
| Committee member retainers (non-chair) | Audit $20,000; Compensation $15,000; Nominating $10,000 |
| Meeting fees | None (no per-meeting fees) |
Angela Acharia – 2024 director compensation:
| Year | Cash Fees (USD) | Stock Awards (USD) | Options (USD) | Total (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $75,000 | $119,981 | — | $194,981 |
Notes: Cash amount implies $50,000 base + $15,000 (compensation committee member) + $10,000 (nominating committee member) consistent with policy .
Performance Compensation
Director equity program (structure and vesting):
| Grant Type | Standard Value | Vesting | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial RSU grant (non-chair) | $225,000 | Four equal quarterly installments over one year | For committee chairs: Audit $250k; Comp $225k; Nominating $225k |
| Annual RSU grant (non-chair) | $125,000 | Four equal quarterly installments over one year | Audit chair annual grant $175,000 |
| 2024 grant mechanics | Based on 20‑day avg price; grant date Sep 13, 2024 | Time‑based (no performance metrics) | Number of RSUs determined by policy formula |
No performance-based metrics (e.g., revenue, EBITDA, TSR) are disclosed for non‑employee director equity awards; director RSUs are time‑based .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Voting Agreement (interlock context) | Legacy BuzzFeed, Sponsor, and Jonah Peretti agreed to nominate designated directors; Ms. Acharia was initially appointed under this agreement; it expired June 24, 2024 |
No additional public company directorships or disclosed interlocks for Ms. Acharia beyond the Voting Agreement context .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Investment and advisory experience across consumer technology and entertainment; talent strategist and investor .
- B.A. from Middlesex University .
- Board qualification rationale: extensive investment and entertainment industry experience .
Equity Ownership
Beneficial ownership (BuzzFeed Class A) as disclosed:
| As-of Date | Direct Class A Shares | Indirect/Other | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 11, 2024 | 200,065 | 2,250 via A Series Investment, LLC (disclaimed except to pecuniary interest) | Pre 1‑for‑4 reverse split (May 6, 2024) |
| March 31, 2025 | 138,824 | 563 via A Series Investment, LLC (disclaimed except to pecuniary interest) | Post 1‑for‑4 reverse split; shares presented on post‑split basis |
Ownership alignment policies:
- Stock ownership guidelines: Directors expected to own shares equal to 5x annual retainer within five years; unvested RSUs count; if not in compliance after five years, must hold 100% of net shares from RSU vesting until compliant .
- Hedging/pledging: Company policy prohibits hedging and generally prohibits pledging/margin accounts, with limited pre‑approved exceptions .
Vested/unvested breakdown and options: As of Dec 31, 2024, the non‑employee director table shows no RSUs or options reported for Ms. Acharia outstanding; Adam Rothstein reported 47,637 RSUs .
Insider Trades
Recent Section 16 filings and transactions (2025):
| Date | Transaction | Shares | Price/Range | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025‑09‑01 | RSUs vested/settled into Class A | 11,897 | $0 (RSU settlement) | |
| 2025‑09‑12 | Sale of Class A shares | 56,378 | $1.98–$2.05 |
Additional filing references:
- Form 4 filings dated 09/03/2025 and 09/09/2025 (Acharia) noting beneficial ownership and disclaimer for A Series Investment, LLC .
Governance Assessment
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Strengths
- Independent director; all board committees composed of independent directors .
- Active roles on Compensation and Nominating/Corporate Governance/Corporate Responsibility committees; service on a special transactions committee .
- Director pay mix integrates equity RSUs; stock ownership guidelines increase alignment; hedging/pledging restrictions protect alignment .
- Equity plan reflects good practices: no discounted options/SARs; double‑trigger equity treatment; clawback applicability; no tax gross‑ups .
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Red flags / watch items
- Attendance: Ms. Acharia did not meet the >75% attendance threshold in 2024; this is a governance concern for board effectiveness and engagement .
- Initial appointment under Voting Agreement: while the agreement expired in 2024, initial designation by Sponsor/Peretti can be perceived as a structural interlock; continued independence is noted by the Board .
- Plan repricing authority: the 2021 Equity Incentive Plan permits the committee to increase/decrease exercise prices or exchange awards without shareholder approval (subject to 409A), which proxy advisors often flag; however, directors typically receive RSUs rather than options .
- Change‑in‑control treatment: non‑employee director awards accelerate prior to consummation, which can be seen as less shareholder‑friendly .
- Insider selling: Sept 2025 sale of 56,378 shares following RSU vesting may be viewed as a neutral liquidity event, but timing and volume should be monitored for signaling .
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Related party transactions: None involving Ms. Acharia are disclosed; company maintains a formal related‑party transaction policy and assigns review authority to independent committees .
-
Overall view: Ms. Acharia contributes relevant consumer and entertainment expertise and serves on key governance committees; attendance shortfall in 2024 is the primary board‑effectiveness concern. Equity alignment policies and independence mitigate conflict risks, though plan features (repricing/CoC acceleration) warrant continued oversight .