John Hope Bryant
About John Hope Bryant
John Hope Bryant (age 59) is an independent director of CMCT, serving since November 2022. He is founder, chairman, and chief executive officer of Operation HOPE, Inc., and leads John Hope Bryant Enterprises, Bryant Group Ventures, and Bryant Group Advisors; he was executive chairman of The Promise Homes Company until June 2024. He is recognized for financial literacy leadership and public-policy advocacy and was selected for the CMCT board for entrepreneurial and real estate experience and community ties .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Promise Homes Company (TPHC) | Executive Chairman | Until June 2024 | Built largest minority-controlled single-family rental owner; leadership and real estate investment expertise |
| Operation HOPE, Inc. | Founder, Chairman & CEO | Ongoing | National financial literacy and inclusion leader; advisor to multiple U.S. presidents |
| Bryant Group Ventures / John Hope Bryant Enterprises / Bryant Group Advisors | Chairman & CEO | Ongoing | Entrepreneurship, strategic advisory, community engagement |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nextdoor Holdings, Inc. | Director | Since Nov 2021 | Nominating, Corporate Governance, and Corporate Responsibility Committees |
| Clinton Global Initiative | Founding Member | Not disclosed | Global engagement and social impact network |
| World Economic Forum – Young Global Leaders | Member | Not disclosed | Global leadership program |
| CNBC (Contributor), iHeart Podcast “Money and Wealth” (Host) | Media Contributor | Not disclosed | Financial wellness outreach and thought leadership |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee member; Audit Committee chaired by Elaine Wong with Marcie Edwards as fellow member; Compensation Committee (Bech chair, Wong member) and Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee (Bech chair, Edwards member) do not include Bryant .
- Independence and expertise: Audit Committee comprised entirely of independent directors under Nasdaq/SEC rules; Bryant is listed and treated as independent. Wong is designated “audit committee financial expert” .
- Attendance and engagement: Board held six meetings in 2023 and eight meetings in 2024; each director attended at least 75% of board and committee meetings in those years; independent directors hold at least one executive session annually without management .
- Audit Committee activity: Held five meetings in 2023 and five in 2024; oversees financial reporting, legal/compliance, auditor appointment and independence, internal controls, and SEC cybersecurity rule compliance; holds executive sessions with auditors .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Board Retainer (Cash) | $55,000 | $55,000 |
| Audit Committee Chair Retainer (Cash) | $20,000 (role-based; Bryant not chair) | $20,000 (role-based; Bryant not chair) |
| Equity Award (Restricted Shares – Grant-Date Value) | $54,999 | $54,786 |
| Equity Award Shares Granted | 12,222 RS | 108 RS |
| Equity Grant Date | Aug 2, 2023 | Aug 6, 2024 |
| Per-Share Price Used for Fair Value | $4.50 | $507.28 |
| Vesting | Time-based; vest on first anniversary if director continues service | Time-based; vest on first anniversary if director continues service |
| Director Compensation (Bryant) | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Fees Earned or Paid in Cash | $55,000 | $55,000 |
| Share Awards (ASC 718 grant-date fair value) | $54,999 | $54,786 |
| Total | $109,999 | $109,768 |
Notes:
- No separate retainers for chairs of Compensation or Nominating & Corporate Governance Committees .
- No meeting fees disclosed; independent directors reimbursed for meeting-related expenses .
Performance Compensation
- Structure: No performance-based metrics disclosed for director compensation; equity awards are time-based restricted shares that vest after one year of continued board service .
| Performance Metric | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue growth targets tied to director awards | Not disclosed; director awards time-based RS | Not disclosed; director awards time-based RS |
| EBITDA/TSR/ESG performance conditions | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Options/PSUs granted | Company states it does not currently grant new stock options/SARs; none disclosed for directors | Company states it does not currently grant new stock options/SARs; none disclosed for directors |
| Vesting Schedule Details | 2023 Award | 2024 Award |
|---|---|---|
| Grant Type | Restricted Shares | Restricted Shares |
| Shares Granted | 12,222 | 108 |
| Grant Date | Aug 2, 2023 | Aug 6, 2024 |
| Vesting Date | Aug 2, 2024 (subject to continued service) | Aug 6, 2025 (subject to continued service) |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Committee Roles | Interlocks/Conflicts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nextdoor Holdings, Inc. | Director (since Nov 2021) | Nominating, Corporate Governance, Corporate Responsibility | No CMCT-related interlocks disclosed in CMCT proxy |
| Non-profit/public policy affiliations | See About/External Roles | — | Not tied to CMCT transactions per proxy disclosures |
- Related-party transactions disclosed involve CIM Group affiliates (e.g., lease at 4750 Wilshire JV) and are reviewed under a board policy; no Bryant-specific related-party transactions are described in the proxy .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Entrepreneur and real estate investor with significant community engagement and financial literacy leadership; widely recognized by Fortune 500 CEOs and national media .
- Public-company board experience (Nextdoor) with governance-related committee roles .
- Selected for CMCT board for leadership skill, entrepreneurial background, and community connections expected to bring valuable insight to the board .
Equity Ownership
| Metric | 2023 (as of Jun 16, 2023) | 2024 (as of Jun 3, 2024) | 2025 (as of Mar 2025 proxy) | 2025 (as of Apr 14, 2025) | 2025 (as of Record Date – Aug 2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Common Shares Beneficially Owned | — (not reported) | 12,222 | 3,972 | 158 | 8,819 |
| Percent of Class | <1% | <1% | <1% | <1% | 1.1% |
| Unvested Restricted Shares Outstanding (year-end) | — | 12,222 (as of 12/31/2023) | — | 108 (as of 12/31/2024) | — |
Policy notes:
- Hedging prohibited; short sales and derivative hedges barred by Trading Policy. Pledging permitted only with approval of a designated attorney; proxy does not disclose any pledging by Bryant .
Governance Assessment
- Independent director with Audit Committee service; committee comprises only independent directors under Nasdaq/SEC rules; enhances oversight credibility, including cybersecurity oversight .
- Attendance meets required thresholds; board held 6 meetings in 2023 and 8 in 2024; each director attended at least 75% of board and relevant committee meetings—indicative of engagement .
- Compensation structure is balanced (cash retainer + time-based RS), stable YoY, and lacks performance conditions—alignment is via equity that vests with continued service; no meeting fees; audit chair premium not applicable to Bryant .
- Ownership alignment is modest (≤1.1% of common), while founders/affiliates hold significant stakes; independent directors’ smaller holdings suggest limited economic leverage, making committee rigor critical .
- Policies restrict hedging; pledging allowed only with approval. While no Bryant-specific pledging is disclosed, the allowance introduces potential risk if approvals were granted in future. RED FLAG: Pledging permitted by policy (approval required) .
- Related-party transactions exist with CIM affiliates (e.g., 4750 Wilshire JV); no Bryant-specific related-party exposure disclosed, but board policy governs review/approval .
Overall, Bryant’s governance profile shows independence, consistent attendance, and Audit Committee participation with cybersecurity oversight. Equity grants are time-based without performance metrics; ownership is modest relative to controlling holders, placing emphasis on effective committee oversight and independence .