John C. Ball
About John C. Ball
John C. Ball is the Treasurer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer of Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (ECF) and has served in this role since 2017. He was born in 1976 and is also Senior Vice President of GAMCO Investors, Inc. (since 2018) and Chief Executive Officer of G.Distributors, LLC (since 2020), reflecting broader operating and distribution leadership across the Gabelli Fund Complex where he has been an officer since 2017 . He executed Sarbanes‑Oxley Section 302 and 906 certifications for ECF’s N‑CSR on June 6, 2025, attesting to fair presentation, disclosure controls, and internal control over financial reporting .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (ECF) | Treasurer; Principal Financial and Accounting Officer | 2017–present | Financial reporting leadership; responsible for certifications and internal control oversight |
| Ellsworth Growth and Income Fund Ltd. (ECF) | Treasurer (signatory on 8‑K) | May 19, 2025 | Executed corporate filing related to Series B Preferred preferences amendment |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| GAMCO Investors, Inc. | Senior Vice President | 2018–present | Senior leadership at Adviser supporting fund complex operations |
| G.Distributors, LLC | Chief Executive Officer | 2020–present | Distribution leadership across Gabelli complex |
| Gabelli Fund Complex | Officer of registered investment companies | 2017–present | Cross‑complex governance and operations responsibilities |
Fixed Compensation
- ECF’s proxy discloses trustee compensation and states it would include any officers who were compensated by the Fund rather than the Adviser; no officer‑specific compensation (salary, bonus, equity) for Mr. Ball is itemized for FY 2024, indicating compensation is not paid by the Fund or not disclosed at the Fund level .
- Trustee fee structure (context for Fund governance, not applicable to Mr. Ball): $8,500 annual retainer; $1,000 per Board meeting; committee fees; aggregate trustee remuneration was $103,875 for FY 2024 .
Performance Compensation
- There are no disclosures of performance‑based incentives (bonus metrics, RSUs/PSUs, options) for Mr. Ball at the Fund level in the 2025 proxy .
- Clawback policy disclosure in ECF’s N‑CSR indicates $0 erroneously awarded compensation outstanding and $0 recovery forgone; no restatement requiring recovery in the period, aligning with SEC Rule 10D‑1 compliance .
Equity Ownership & Alignment
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total beneficial ownership (Common) | 31 Common Shares |
| Ownership as % of shares outstanding | Less than 1% (asterisk notation) |
| Preferred shares | None disclosed for Mr. Ball |
| Vested vs. unvested shares | Not disclosed |
| Options (exercisable/unexercisable) | Not disclosed |
| Shares pledged as collateral | Not disclosed |
| Stock ownership guidelines and compliance | Not disclosed |
Employment Terms
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| ECF officer start/tenure | Since 2017 (Treasurer; Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
| Address of record | One Corporate Center, Rye, NY 10580‑1422 |
| SOX 302 certification | Executed June 6, 2025; responsibilities include disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting |
| SOX 906 certification | Executed June 6, 2025; certifies fair presentation of financial condition and results |
| Clawback (10D‑1) status | $0 erroneously awarded compensation outstanding; $0 recovery forgone; no applicable restatement in period |
| Employment contract, severance, change‑of‑control | Not disclosed at the Fund level |
| Non‑compete / non‑solicit / garden leave | Not disclosed |
| Post‑termination consulting | Not disclosed |
Investment Implications
- Alignment: Direct ownership of 31 common shares (<1%) suggests limited direct equity alignment at the Fund level; however, his primary employment and compensation appear to be with affiliated Adviser entities, which is typical for closed‑end funds and may shift alignment toward adviser performance rather than fund TSR .
- Retention risk: Tenure since 2017 and concurrent senior roles at GAMCO and G.Distributors indicate institutional embeddedness and lower near‑term retention risk driven by Fund‑level incentives; absence of Fund‑level equity awards reduces vesting‑related selling pressure .
- Governance and control: Repeated SOX certifications and signatory role on filings point to strong involvement in financial controls and reporting, which is a positive for operational reliability; clawback policy compliance with zero recovery events in the period reduces enforcement overhang .
- Trading signals: With no disclosed options/RSUs or vesting schedules, there are limited near‑term insider‑related selling catalysts at the Fund level; monitoring Form 4s would be necessary for updates on any beneficial ownership changes, but such data are not disclosed in the proxy excerpts above .