Alejandro (Alex) Perez-Tenessa
Employers HoldingsAbout Alejandro (Alex) Perez‑Tenessa
Independent director at Employers Holdings, Inc. (EIG), age 50, serving since 2022. Founder and CEO of Trendio Live Inc. (formed July 2021), with prior senior roles at Amazon (VP, U.S. Prime Video, Aug 2019–Apr 2021; VP, Kindle Content, 2017–2019), CVS Health (VP, Beauty & Personal Care, 2013–2017), and McKinsey & Company (Partner, 2003–2013). Education: MBA, Harvard University (Baker Scholar); bachelor’s and master’s degrees from ESSEC Business School (Paris). Core credentials: transformational leadership, digital marketing, and machine learning‑driven customer experience optimization .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com, Inc. | Vice President, U.S. Prime Video | Aug 2019–Apr 2021 | Led growth initiatives for streaming; operational leadership in content and customer experience . |
| Amazon.com, Inc. | Vice President, Kindle Content | 2017–2019 | Oversaw digital content; optimized customer experience leveraging ML . |
| CVS Health | Vice President, Beauty & Personal Care | 2013–2017 | Drove category transformation and merchandising strategy . |
| McKinsey & Company | Partner | 2003–2013 | Strategy advisory; transformational leadership across industries . |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trendio Live Inc. | Founder & CEO | Jul 2021–present | Marketing technology company; founder‑led, indicates entrepreneurial/tech expertise . |
| Public company boards | None | N/A | No other current or prior public company directorships within last five years . |
Board Governance
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Independence | Independent director; Board determined all non‑employee directors are independent under NYSE rules . |
| Committees | Executive Committee (member); Human Capital Management & Compensation (member); Risk Management, Technology & Innovation (Chair) . |
| Committee meetings held in 2024 | Audit: 5; Governance: 6; Compensation: 9; Finance: 3 (dissolved July 2024); Risk: 5; Executive: 0 . |
| Attendance | Each director attended at least 75% of Board and committee meetings in 2024; continuing directors attended the 2024 Annual Meeting . |
| Board leadership | Board chaired by independent director (Jeanne L. Mockard); lead independent director policy satisfied via independent Chair . |
| Tenure on EIG Board | Director since 2022 . |
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Structure (2024) | Alex’s 2024 Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Board annual cash retainer | $65,000 | Included in cash total below . |
| Committee chair fee | Audit: $20,000; Compensation: $15,000; Other Committees (incl. Risk): $10,000 | Risk Committee chair fee applies; included in cash total . |
| Committee membership fee | Audit: $14,000; Compensation: $12,000; Other Committees: $9,000 | Compensation Committee membership; included in cash total . |
| Meeting fees (over 8 per year) | Audit: $1,750; Compensation: $1,500; Other Committees: $1,500 | As applicable; included in cash total . |
| Annual RSU award | $85,000 grant value | $84,995 . |
| Alex’s total cash | — | $81,750 . |
| All other compensation | — | $162 . |
| Alex’s total | — | $166,907 . |
Notes:
- Director compensation consists of cash retainers/fees plus annual RSUs; no meeting fees for Board meetings; committee meeting fees only if attendance exceeds eight per calendar year .
- CAP (Compensation Advisory Partners) advised on director compensation; committee confirmed independence and no conflicts .
Performance Compensation
| Equity Instrument | Grant Date | Shares/Units | Grant Fair Value | Vesting | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSUs (annual director grant) | May 23, 2024 | 2,067 | $84,995 | Vest on May 23, 2025 (subject to continued service) | FMV per share at grant: $41.12; dividend equivalents credited if settlement deferred; converted to additional RSUs . |
Performance metrics tied to director compensation: None disclosed (director equity grants are time‑based RSUs; no options or PSUs for directors) .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Current public company boards | None . |
| Prior public company boards (last five years) | None . |
| Compensation committee interlocks | None; EIG Compensation Committee members (incl. Perez‑Tenessa) were not officers of EIG or any entity with reciprocal committee relationships . |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Transformational leadership; digital marketing; machine learning‑enabled customer experience optimization .
- Senior operating experience at Amazon and CVS; strategy experience as McKinsey partner .
- MBA (Harvard, Baker Scholar); ESSEC bachelor’s and master’s degrees .
Equity Ownership
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership (common shares) | 6,984; less than 1% of class (24,260,602 shares outstanding as of Mar 24, 2025) . |
| Unvested director RSUs outstanding (as of Dec 31, 2024) | 2,067 (scheduled to vest May 23, 2025) . |
| Stock ownership guidelines (directors) | Required to own ≥3× annual cash Board retainer; may accumulate over first three years; directors with ≥3 years on Board meet requirement . |
| Hedging/pledging | Anti‑hedging policy applies to directors; transactions designed to hedge/offset declines prohibited; no pledging disclosed for directors in proxy . |
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: As Chair of the Risk Management, Technology & Innovation Committee, Perez‑Tenessa oversees ERM, cybersecurity, risk appetite/tolerances, and strategic technology/innovation initiatives—areas directly impacting underwriting, capital, and customer experience . His ML/digital background strengthens oversight of cyber and tech risk .
- Independence & engagement: Classified independent; serves on key committees (Risk Chair; Compensation member; Executive member). Board met 7 times; risk and compensation committees met 5 and 9 times respectively in 2024; all directors met the ≥75% attendance threshold and attended the annual meeting—supportive of active oversight .
- Compensation alignment: Director pay mix is balanced between cash ($81,750) and equity RSUs ($84,995), aligning incentives with shareholder value via time‑based share ownership; no options, performance‑based equity, or tax gross‑ups are disclosed for directors .
- Potential conflicts: Founder/CEO of Trendio Live (marketing technology). EIG’s Related Person Transactions Policy requires review of transactions >$120,000; proxy discloses no related‑party transactions, loans, or director/officer debt with EIG; compensation consultant CAP affirmed independent engagement (no conflicts). No committee interlocks disclosed .
- RED FLAGS: None identified in proxy disclosures—no pledging/hedging, no related‑party transactions, no repricing or option grants, and robust clawback/trading policies are in place .
Implications: Perez‑Tenessa’s risk/technology chair role and data‑driven background are positives for EIG’s cyber/ERM oversight. Lack of interlocks/related‑party exposure and balanced director pay support investor confidence in governance discipline .