James G. Polisson
About James G. Polisson
Independent Trustee of Allspring Utilities and High Income Fund (ERH) since 2018; Chair of the Nominating and Governance Committee since 2024; year of birth 1959. He is an attorney (retired status with the Massachusetts and District of Columbia Bar Associations) and a seasoned ETF executive with prior leadership roles at Russell Investments’ global ETF business (CEO/MD, 2010–2012) and Barclays Global Investors/iShares (Global CMO, 2000–2010) . He is nominated as a Class III Trustee with a term expected to run through the 2028 annual meeting if elected .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source (ETF) UK Services, Ltd. | Chief Marketing Officer | 2015–2017 | Led marketing at major European ETP provider |
| The Polisson Group, LLC | Principal | 2012–2015 | Management consulting, corporate advisory, principal investing |
| Russell Investments – Global ETFs | Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director | 2010–2012 | Built global ETF business; Trustee/Chairman/President/CEO of Russell Exchange Traded Funds Trust (2011–2012) |
| Barclays Global Investors / iShares | Managing Director; Global Chief Marketing Officer | 1998–2010; 2000–2010 | Led global marketing for iShares; Director of BGI Holdings Deutschland GmbH (2006–2009) |
| San Francisco Mechanics’ Institute | Trustee (non-profit) | 2013–2015 | Board service at cultural institution |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russell Exchange Traded Funds Trust | Board of Trustees; Chairman, President & CEO | 2011–2012 | Oversight and leadership of ETF trust board |
Board Governance
- Independence: ERH’s eight-member Board consists entirely of Independent Trustees under the 1940 Act; Nominating & Governance Committee members are independent under NYSE American standards .
- Committee memberships: Each Independent Trustee, including Mr. Polisson, serves on both the Nominating & Governance Committee and the Audit Committee; Polisson is Chair of Nominating & Governance .
- Board/committee activity and attendance: FY2025 meetings held—Board regular: 4; Nominating & Governance: 5; Audit: 7. Each Trustee attended at least 75% of the aggregate Board and applicable committee meetings .
- Leadership structure: Board chaired by Independent Trustee Timothy J. Penny; Chair Liaison is Pamela Wheelock; committees operate under Board-approved charters. Committee chairs receive additional annual fees (amount determined by the Board) and serve three-year terms, extendable with limits unless waived .
- Term: Polisson is nominated as Class III; if elected, the term would extend to the 2028 annual meeting (or later until a successor is elected/qualified) .
- Shareholder meeting attendance policy: Fund encourages at least one Trustee to attend the Annual Meeting (in person or virtually); prior year attendees listed included Ebsworth, Harris, Wheelock, Penny .
Fixed Compensation
| Metric | FY2021 | FY2022 | FY2023 | FY2024 | FY2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compensation From ERH ($) | $2,363 | $2,673 | $2,793 | $2,793 | $4,291 |
| Total Compensation From Fund Complex ($) | $328,500 | $331,500 | $352,000 | $352,000 | $394,750 |
- Structure notes: Trustees receive cash compensation and reimbursement of Board-related expenses; no pension/retirement benefits from the Fund. Committee chairs are entitled to additional annual fees set by the Board (amount not disclosed) .
Performance Compensation
- No performance-based compensation, equity grants, options, or incentive metrics disclosed for Trustees. Compensation is cash-based with potential additional chair fees; Trustees may own Fund shares personally, but no equity awards are granted by the Fund .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Current/Past 5 Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| None disclosed | — | Current/Past 5 Years: None | ERH disclosure lists no other public company directorships in past 5 years for Polisson |
Expertise & Qualifications
- ETF industry leadership: 15+ years in ETFs, including CEO/MD at Russell Investments’ global ETF business and Global CMO for iShares/Barclays Global Investors .
- Legal credentials: Attorney, retired status with MA and D.C. Bar Associations .
- Global marketing and distribution expertise across asset management platforms .
- Oversees 92 portfolios within the Allspring Fund Complex, indicating broad scope of oversight experience .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Dollar Range in ERH (as of Aug 31, 2025) | Aggregate Dollar Range in Fund Complex (as of Aug 31, 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| James G. Polisson | $10,001–$50,000 | Over $100,000 |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Fully independent board and committees; active committee cadence with documented charters; Polisson’s chair role in Nominating & Governance strengthens board refreshment, leadership structure reviews, and oversight of independent counsel engagement policies .
- Alignment: Personal ERH ownership ($10k–$50k) and >$100k aggregate complex ownership support alignment, though the Fund does not grant equity-based director pay; compensation increased modestly over time consistent with broader complex responsibilities .
- Potential red flags to monitor: Staggered board terms can reduce immediate shareholder influence on board control; however, ERH cites stability and long-term perspective as rationale . Committee chair fees are set at Board discretion without disclosed amounts—ensure fee decisions remain aligned with workload and market benchmarks . No related-party transactions or pledging/hedging disclosures specific to Polisson were identified; continue monitoring proxy and 8-Ks for any changes .