Scott E. Wennerholm
About Scott E. Wennerholm
Scott E. Wennerholm (born 1959) is an independent (“noninterested”) Trustee of Eaton Vance Tax-Managed Global Buy-Write Opportunities Fund (ETW) since 2016, currently serving as Audit Committee Chair and designated Audit Committee Financial Expert; he was appointed Chairperson of the Board effective August 27, 2025 for a 4-year term . He brings 30+ years of asset management operating experience as COO/EVP at BNY Mellon Asset Management (2005–2011), COO/CFO at Natixis Global Asset Management (1997–2004), and VP at Fidelity Investments Institutional Services (1994–1997) .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| BNY Mellon Asset Management | Chief Operating Officer; Executive Vice President | 2005–2011 | Senior operating leadership across accounting/reporting, controls, and audit preparedness |
| Natixis Global Asset Management | Chief Operating Officer; Chief Financial Officer | 1997–2004 | Oversight of finance, controls, and operations; relevant to Audit Committee expertise |
| Fidelity Investments Institutional Services | Vice President | 1994–1997 | Institutional platform leadership; governance and operations exposure |
| Wheelock College | Trustee | 2012–2018 | Nonprofit board governance experience |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| None disclosed | — | — | No other public company directorships in last five years |
Board Governance
- Independence: All current Trustees, including Wennerholm, are “noninterested” under the 1940 Act .
- Board composition/meetings: Ten noninterested Trustees; eight Board meetings in FY2024 plus special calls; six standing committees: Audit, Contract Review, Governance, Portfolio Management, Compliance Reports & Regulatory Matters, and Closed-End Fund Committee .
- Audit Committee: Members—Wennerholm (Chair), George J. Gorman, Keith Quinton, Nancy Wiser Stefani; Gorman and Wennerholm designated Audit Committee Financial Experts; Committee met 10 times in FY2024; members independent under NYSE standards .
- Attendance: Each Trustee attended at least 75% of Board/Committee meetings on which they serve; none attended the Funds’ 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders .
- Leadership change: Effective August 27, 2025, Wennerholm appointed Chairperson of the Board for 4 years (replacing acting Chairperson Susan J. Sutherland) .
| Committee | 2024 Meetings | Wennerholm Membership | Chair Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audit | 10 | Yes | Yes (Chair) |
| Contract Review | 5 | Not disclosed | — |
| Governance | 5 | Not disclosed | — |
| Portfolio Management | 7 | Not disclosed | — |
| Compliance Reports & Regulatory Matters | 8 | Not disclosed | — |
| Closed-End Fund Committee (Ad Hoc predecessor met 10 times in 2024) | Established before FY2024 end | Not disclosed | — |
| Board (overall) | 8 | Yes | Chairperson beginning 8/27/2025 |
Fixed Compensation
Compensation structure for noninterested Trustees (pro rata across the Eaton Vance fund complex) :
- Annual retainer: $325,000
- Additional annual retainer: $150,000 for serving as Chairperson of the noninterested Trustees
- Additional annual retainer: $82,500 for Committee Service
- Additional annual retainer: $15,000 for serving on four or more Committees
- Additional annual retainer: $35,000 for serving as a Committee Chairperson (split if Co-Chairs)
- Out-of-pocket expenses reimbursed
2024 compensation received (calendar year) :
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| ETW fund-specific Trustee fees (2024) | $6,511 |
| Total Compensation from Fund and Fund Complex (2024) | $445,000 |
Notes:
- Compensation is pro-rated across funds in the Eaton Vance complex (123 registered investment companies/series as of January 28, 2025) .
- A Trustees Deferred Compensation Plan is available; Trustees may elect to defer fees into Eaton Vance funds; No fund has a pension/retirement plan for Trustees .
Performance Compensation
- No stock, option, PSU/RSU grants or performance-based incentive framework disclosed for Trustees; compensation is cash retainers and committee-based stipends, with optional deferral into Eaton Vance funds .
- No clawback, change-in-control, severance, or tax gross-up provisions disclosed for Trustees .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Committee Roles | Overlap/Conflict Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| None disclosed | — | — | No public company directorships listed in last five years, reducing interlock/conflict risk |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Financial operations and controls: Former COO/CFO roles at global asset managers; designated as Audit Committee Financial Expert .
- Asset management industry depth: 30+ years across BNY Mellon, Natixis, Fidelity .
- Board governance: Trustee across Eaton Vance closed-end funds since 2016; nonprofit trustee experience .
Equity Ownership
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership of ETW equity securities | None (as of January 28, 2025) |
| Aggregate dollar range in Eaton Vance family of funds | Over $100,000 (Wennerholm) |
| Shares pledged/hedged | Not disclosed |
| Ownership guidelines | Not disclosed |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent status; deep financial operations background; Audit Committee Chair and Financial Expert designation; robust committee cadence (Audit 10 meetings in 2024); clear risk oversight architecture across Board/committees .
- Alignment: No ETW share ownership but significant aggregate exposure to Eaton Vance funds and optional fee deferral into funds; this can modestly align incentives though not specific to ETW .
- Engagement: At least 75% attendance threshold met; Audit Committee actively engaged; nonattendance at 2024 Annual Meeting noted across all Trustees (logistical/common in fund complexes) .
- Leadership signal: Appointment as Board Chair (Aug 27, 2025) suggests continuity in financial oversight and potential prioritization of controls under his leadership .
- Conflicts/Red Flags: No related-party transactions or adverse proceedings disclosed; no other public company boards listed (lower interlock risk). No equity awards, option repricing, tax gross-ups, or pension benefits disclosed for Trustees .
Implication: Wennerholm’s audit-centric governance and industry operating expertise support investor confidence in financial reporting integrity for ETW; the absence of ETW-specific equity ownership is typical for independent fund trustees but may limit direct “skin-in-the-game” to the fund itself, partially offset by aggregate Eaton Vance fund exposure and optional fee deferral mechanics .