Pilar Manchón
EventbriteAbout Pilar Manchón
Dr. Pilar Manchón (age 52) is an independent director of Eventbrite, Inc. (EB) serving since August 2023; she is a member of the Audit Committee and brings deep AI and technology leadership experience from Alphabet/Google, Roku, and Amazon . She currently serves as Senior Director of Engineering, Research Strategy & Tech at Google Research (Alphabet) since October 2019, advising internationally on AI development and regulation; she previously led Conversational AI engineering at Roku (2018–2019) and cognitive interfaces at Amazon.com . The Board has affirmatively determined she is independent under NYSE and SEC rules; all committee members are independent, with Audit chaired by Helen Riley; the Board met 4 times in 2024 and each director attended at least 75% of board and applicable committee meetings .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Research (Alphabet) | Senior Director of Engineering, Research Strategy & Tech | Oct 2019–present | Leads AI development and contributes to international AI regulation |
| Roku | VP of Engineering, Conversational AI | Jul 2018–Aug 2019 | Led conversational AI engineering initiatives |
| Amazon.com | Director, Cognitive Interfaces | Prior to Jul 2018 (dates not specified) | Led cognitive interface programs |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government of Andalusia | Strategic advisor on AI | Current | Advises on AI policy and regulation |
| Government of Spain | Strategic advisor on AI | Current | Advises on AI policy and regulation |
| Several private company boards | Director | Current | Specific entities not disclosed |
Board Governance
- Independence: Independent director; all committee members are independent under NYSE/SEC rules .
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee member; Audit met 6 times in fiscal 2024; Helen Riley is Chair and audit committee financial expert .
- Board meetings: Board met 4 times in 2024; each director attended at least 75% of Board and committee meetings; all directors attended the 2024 Annual Meeting .
- Lead Independent Director: Sean Moriarty; regular executive sessions of independent directors are held .
- Risk oversight: Audit oversees financial reporting, internal controls, privacy/cybersecurity, liquidity, and related party transactions .
- Insider trading, hedging/pledging and clawback: Hedging and pledging of EB securities prohibited; clawback policy implemented per NYSE Rule 10D-1; Section 16(a) filings timely in 2024 .
Fixed Compensation
Non-Employee Director Compensation Program (effective June 8, 2023):
| Compensation Element | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|
| Annual retainer | $35,000 |
| Lead Independent Director add’l retainer | $20,000 |
| Committee chair annual retainer – Audit | $25,000 |
| Committee chair annual retainer – Compensation | $15,000 |
| Committee chair annual retainer – Nominating & Governance | $10,000 |
| Committee member annual retainer – Audit | $10,000 |
| Committee member annual retainer – Compensation | $7,500 |
| Committee member annual retainer – Nominating & Governance | $5,000 |
2024 Actual Cash/Fees for Dr. Manchón:
| Component | Amount (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual retainer | $35,000 | Eligible to elect cash in unrestricted stock; election available and utilized by most non-employee directors |
| Audit Committee member retainer | $10,000 | Committee membership fee |
| Total fees earned or paid in cash | $45,000 | Reported in Director Compensation Table |
Performance Compensation
Annual equity grants for non-employee directors are time-based RSUs (no performance metrics); directors may defer settlement into deferred stock units.
| Grant Type | Grant Date | Shares Granted | Grant-Date Fair Value (USD) | Vesting | Deferral Election |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual RSU grant | Jun 6, 2024 | 37,453 | $199,999 | Vests in full on earlier of 1-year anniversary or next annual meeting; accelerates upon “sale event” per 2018 Plan | Dr. Manchón elected to defer settlement of her annual RSU retainer award into deferred stock units |
Performance metrics: None apply to director equity; RSUs are time-based with optional deferral; directors may also elect to receive cash retainers in unrestricted stock .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
- Current public company boards: None disclosed beyond Eventbrite .
- Committee roles at other public companies: Not disclosed .
- Interlocks/related parties: No disclosed related-party transactions involving Dr. Manchón; Audit Committee reviewed/approved Stripe payments given former director Tomlinson’s employment at Stripe; aggregate payments ~$3.9M since Jan 1, 2024 .
- Independence confirmed annually by Board; all committee members meet heightened independence standards .
Expertise & Qualifications
- AI/ML leadership and research strategy (Alphabet/Google) .
- Product-led growth and operating experience across major technology firms (Amazon, Roku) .
- Skills matrix indicates product-led growth, international operating experience, data capabilities, consumer growth strategy expertise, marketplace experience, and M&A strategy among Board competencies applicable to the mix of directors that includes Dr. Manchón .
Equity Ownership
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership (Class A shares) as of Apr 1, 2025 | 35,363 shares; less than 1% of total ownership |
| RSUs/deferred stock units outstanding as of Dec 31, 2024 | 54,103 units (includes RSUs and deferred stock units) |
| Stock options | None outstanding for Dr. Manchón |
| Pledged shares | None disclosed; company policy prohibits pledging for employees and directors |
| Ownership guidelines | Required to own ≥5x annual cash retainer by Jan 1, 2027 (or 5 years from election); RSUs count; options excluded |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independence; Audit Committee membership with robust mandate over financial reporting, internal controls, cybersecurity, and related party transactions; regular executive sessions; prohibition of hedging/pledging; director ownership guidelines; deferral of RSU settlement increases long-term alignment .
- Engagement: Board met 4 times in 2024; Audit met 6 times; each director met ≥75% attendance; all directors attended 2024 Annual Meeting, supporting board effectiveness .
- Compensation alignment: Director pay mix is modest cash plus time-based RSUs with annual vesting; no performance metrics for director equity, consistent with market practice; opportunity to take cash in stock and to defer RSUs enhances ownership alignment .
- Potential conflicts: Employment at Alphabet/Google is disclosed; Board determined independence and no Alphabet-related transactions are disclosed; Audit Committee reviews and approves related party transactions; Stripe payments were reviewed due to former director’s employment, demonstrating processes to manage conflicts .
- Shareholder signals: 2024 Say‑on‑Pay support ~95% indicates positive sentiment toward compensation governance broadly at EB, reinforcing investor confidence in oversight structures .
RED FLAGS: None disclosed specific to Dr. Manchón (no related-party transactions, no hedging/pledging, attendance threshold met). Continue monitoring for any Alphabet/Google transactional relationships; Audit Committee oversight and independence determinations mitigate conflict risk .