Sanju Bansal
EverQuoteAbout Sanju Bansal
Sanju Bansal (age 59) has served on EverQuote’s board since 2014 and is independent under Nasdaq rules . He is CEO of Hunch Analytics (since Nov 2013) and previously served as EVP and COO at MicroStrategy (EVP 1993–2013; COO 1994–2012; Vice Chairman 2000–2013) . Education: S.B. in Electrical Engineering, MIT; M.S. in Computer Science, Johns Hopkins University .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunch Analytics, LLC | Chief Executive Officer | Nov 2013–present | Data analytics leadership |
| MicroStrategy Incorporated | EVP; COO; Vice Chairman; Director | 1993–2013 (EVP 1993–2013; COO 1994–2012; VC 2000–2013) | Senior operating leadership; governance experience |
| The Advisory Board Company | Director | 2009–Nov 2017 | Board service until sale |
External Roles
| Company | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SimilarWeb Ltd. | Director | Aug 2021–Jun 2024 | Digital data/analytics |
| Cvent, Inc. | Director | Nov 1999–Jun 2022 | Event management software |
| CSRA Inc. | Director | Nov 2015–Apr 2018 | IT services, national security |
| The Advisory Board Company | Director | 2009–Nov 2017 | Health/education advisory |
| MicroStrategy Incorporated | Director; Vice Chairman | 1993–2013 (VC 2000–2013) | BI software |
Board Governance
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Independence | Independent (Feb 2025 determination) |
| Committee Assignments | Compensation Committee member (Chair: Mira Wilczek) |
| Years of Service | Director since 2014 |
| Attendance | Each director attended ≥75% of board and relevant committee meetings in 2024; all directors attended 2024 Annual Meeting |
| Board Meetings | 6 meetings in 2024 |
| Compensation Committee Meetings | 7 meetings in 2024 |
| Audit Committee Meetings | 4 meetings in 2024 (Bansal not an audit member) |
| Controlled Company Status | EverQuote is a “controlled company” under Nasdaq, availing certain governance exemptions (e.g., majority independent board and nominations committee) |
| Policies | Anti-hedging policy prohibits short sales, derivatives, and hedging instruments; insider trading policy in place; Rule 10b5-1 plans permitted |
- The Compensation Committee reviews/approves executive pay, incentive/equity plans, and director compensation, and uses an independent consultant (Compensia) with no conflicts reported for 2024–2025 .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Structure | Amounts (2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Board cash retainer | Annual cash, paid quarterly | $30,000 retainer |
| Committee retainer – Compensation Committee member | Annual cash, paid quarterly | $5,000 member retainer (Chair: $12,000) |
| Committee retainer – Audit Committee | Annual cash, paid quarterly | $10,000 member; $20,000 chair (Bansal not on Audit) |
| Bansal – Cash fees (actual) | Reported fees earned/paid in cash | $40,000 (2024) |
Performance Compensation
| Equity Award Type | Grant Sizing | Grant Timing Policy | Vesting | Change-of-Control Treatment | Bansal – 2024 Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSUs (annual director grant) | $125,000 divided by closing price on grant date | First board meeting on/after each annual meeting | 100% on earlier of 1-year anniversary or next annual meeting | Full acceleration on change in control | $124,999 (2024 aggregate grant date fair value) |
No performance-based metrics (e.g., revenue, EBITDA, TSR) are tied to non-employee director compensation; awards are time-vested RSUs per policy .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Area | Details |
|---|---|
| Public company boards | SimilarWeb Ltd. (Aug 2021–Jun 2024); Cvent, Inc. (Nov 1999–Jun 2022); CSRA Inc. (Nov 2015–Apr 2018); The Advisory Board Company (2009–Nov 2017); MicroStrategy (1993–2013, Vice Chairman 2000–2013) |
| Potential interlocks | None disclosed with EverQuote’s major suppliers/customers; note EverQuote’s significant related-party transactions with Link Ventures (affiliated with Chairman David Blundin), not with Bansal |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Deep operating experience in enterprise software, analytics, and technology governance; prior COO/EVP roles at a public company (MicroStrategy) .
- Technical credentials: MIT S.B. (EE), Johns Hopkins M.S. (CS), aligning with EverQuote’s data/AI-driven marketplace .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Class A Shares | % of Class A | Class B Shares | % of Class B | % Total Voting Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sanju Bansal | 455,859 | 1.4% | — | — | <1% (“*”) |
| Outstanding awards (as of 12/31/2024) | Stock awards | Option awards | |||
| Sanju Bansal | 5,351 | — | |||
| Policy flags | Anti-hedging policy prohibits derivatives/hedging; 10b5-1 trading plans permitted per policy | ||||
| Pledging | No pledging disclosure identified for directors; policy does not explicitly address pledging in proxy |
Citations: ownership table and footnote confirm Bansal’s Class A share count and percentages; stock awards table lists 5,351 RSUs outstanding as of 12/31/2024 . Anti-hedging and 10b5-1 policy disclosures cited above .
Insider Trades
| Date | Form | Transaction | Shares | Price | Notes | |---|---|---:|---:|---| | 2024 (proxy disclosure) | Section 16(a) | All directors’ required filings timely; no delinquent reports for Bansal | — | — | Only Chairman Blundin noted a March 2024 Form 4; no Bansal exceptions disclosed |
Governance Assessment
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Strengths
- Independent director with relevant operating and technology expertise; serves on Compensation Committee, which met 7 times in 2024, indicating active oversight .
- Attendance threshold met (≥75%); all directors attended the 2024 annual meeting, supporting engagement .
- Director pay structure balanced with modest cash and time-vested RSUs; annual RSU grant ($125k) vests on a short schedule, enhancing near-term alignment without complex performance gates .
-
Risks and potential red flags
- Controlled company status: EverQuote avails certain Nasdaq governance exemptions (e.g., majority independent board and nominations committee), which can weaken shareholder protections compared to fully independent boards .
- Related-party exposure: Significant transactions with entities affiliated with Link Ventures (approx. $12.3M in 2024) overseen via Audit Committee policies; while Bansal is not affiliated, such dynamics can influence overall board independence and perceived conflicts .
- RSU acceleration on change in control for directors may reduce at-risk alignment in sale scenarios (accelerated vesting irrespective of performance) .
- No explicit director stock ownership guidelines disclosed; absence of pledging policy disclosure for directors (though hedging is prohibited) may be viewed as a governance gap by some investors .
-
Overall implication for investors
- Bansal’s profile conveys seasoned governance and technology-operating experience with satisfactory engagement and independence. The broader controlled-company and related-party context requires investors to monitor committee rigor (especially Compensation and Audit) and ongoing related-party transactions for potential conflicts or alignment risks .