Lawrence X. Taylor
About Lawrence X. Taylor
Independent director at 1847 Holdings LLC (EFSH) since August 2022. Age 59 as of the April 26, 2024 record date. Bachelor of Science in Finance from Louisiana Tech University. The board deems all directors other than the CEO/Chairman (Ellery W. Roberts) to be independent under NYSE American rules. Mr. Taylor brings 30+ years of corporate finance, restructuring, M&A and governance experience across multiple industries, with transaction experience totaling over $20 billion.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taylor Strategy Group | President | Since 2004 | Advises on restructurings, acquisitions, corporate development and capital transactions (> $20B cumulative) |
| Odyssey Capital Group (Phoenix) | Partner & Managing Director | 2004–2013 | Business leadership in transactions and growth initiatives |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Item 9 Labs (public company) | Lead Independent Director | Since 2021 | Chair, Audit Committee; Chair, Compensation Committee; Member, Nominating & Governance Committee |
| Kabbage, Inc. | Director | Since Sept 2022 | Board service (committee roles not specified) |
| Barrie House Coffee Roasters | Director | Since 2018 | Chair, M&A Committee; Member, Strategic Planning Committee |
| NACD | Board Leadership Fellow; NACD Directorship Certified | — | Independent governance credentials |
Board Governance
- Independence and board structure: The board determined all directors other than Mr. Roberts are independent; Mr. Roberts serves as both Chairman and CEO. Board committees (Audit; Compensation; Nominating & Corporate Governance) are fully independent.
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee members listed as Paul A. Froning (Chair), Michele A. Chow‑Tai, Clark R. Crosnoe, and Tracy S. Harris; Mr. Taylor is not listed on the Audit Committee. Compensation and Nominating & Corporate Governance committee rosters were not itemized by name in the proxy.
- Attendance: The board met four times in 2023; each incumbent director attended at least 75% of the aggregate board and committee meetings on which they served.
- Director changes: On December 16, 2024, director Tracy S. Harris resigned; the resignation was not due to any disagreement with the company.
- Legal and ethical backdrop: The company reports no legal proceedings involving directors/officers in the past ten years and maintains a Code of Ethics and an insider trading policy that prohibits hedging and pledging (unless pre‑approved) and short sales.
Fixed Compensation
| Component | 2023 (Disclosed) |
|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $35,000 (independent directors; paid monthly) |
| Meeting fees | Not disclosed |
| Committee membership fees | Not disclosed |
| Committee chair fees | Not disclosed |
| Equity (form/annual value) | Company disclosed agreement to grant $35,000 in restricted shares/RSUs/options to independent directors, subject to Compensation Committee approval (grant specifics not disclosed) |
Performance Compensation
| Metric/Structure | Details |
|---|---|
| Director performance metrics | No director‑specific performance metrics were disclosed for FY2023 director compensation. Equity awards for directors were referenced generically (restricted shares/RSUs/options) without performance conditions specified. |
| Plan performance provisions (general) | The 2023 Equity Incentive Plan allows performance criteria, but the proxy does not tie director awards to specific performance goals. |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Public/Private | Role | Potential Interlock/Conflict with EFSH (disclosed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Item 9 Labs | Public | Lead Independent Director; Chair Audit & Comp; Nom/Gov Member | None disclosed; board independence review found no relationships impairing independence. |
| Kabbage, Inc. | Not specified as public | Director | None disclosed. |
| Barrie House Coffee Roasters | Private | Director; Chair M&A | None disclosed. |
No related-party transactions involving Mr. Taylor were disclosed; related party items in the proxy involve other parties (e.g., agreements with the Manager).
Expertise & Qualifications
- Finance/M&A/restructuring expertise across casino gaming, hospitality, manufacturing, aviation, real estate, retail, healthcare; >$20B transaction experience.
- NACD Board Leadership Fellow and NACD Directorship Certified.
- B.S. in Finance, Louisiana Tech University.
- Note: EFSH’s designated “audit committee financial expert” is Paul A. Froning (not Mr. Taylor).
Equity Ownership
| As-of Date (Record Date) | Shares Beneficially Owned | Percent of Class |
|---|---|---|
| April 26, 2024 | 0 | <1% |
| January 22, 2025 | 0 | <1% |
Policy backdrop: Insider trading policy prohibits hedging and pledging (unless pre‑approved) and short sales; no pledging by Mr. Taylor was disclosed.
Governance Assessment
- Strengths
- Independent director with substantial transaction and governance experience; external leadership as lead independent director and chair of audit/compensation at a public company (Item 9 Labs).
- Attendance met or exceeded 75% threshold; board and committees comprised of independent directors (other than CEO/Chair).
- No disclosed related-party transactions or legal proceedings involving Mr. Taylor.
- Watch items / potential red flags
- Zero reported beneficial ownership as of both April 26, 2024 and January 22, 2025; absent disclosed equity holdings may indicate limited “skin‑in‑the‑game” unless/until the contemplated $35,000 equity grants are issued.
- Committee assignments for Mr. Taylor at EFSH were not specified in the proxy (audit roster does not include him), limiting visibility into his direct committee‑level influence at EFSH.
- Company governance context to monitor (board‑level, not individual): combined CEO/Chair role; continue to assess independent director balance and committee leadership after the December 2024 resignation of Tracy S. Harris.
No evidence in company filings of hedging/pledging, related‑party dealings, or attendance shortfalls by Mr. Taylor. Director cash compensation ($35,000) is modest; equity awards are referenced but not detailed—investors may wish to track whether equity grants are executed and retained to improve alignment.