Christopher G. McCann
1 800 FLOWERS COMAbout Christopher G. McCann
Christopher G. McCann, age 64, is a long-tenured director of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. (FLWS) serving since inception; he was CEO from June 2016 to July 2023 and remains an employee and officer of certain subsidiaries. He is the brother of Executive Chairman James F. McCann and is not classified as an independent director under NASDAQ rules. He also serves on the Board of Trustees of Marist College and as Vice Chairman of Kinexion (parent of IGHL).
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. | Chief Executive Officer | Jun 2016 – Jul 2023 | Led overall strategy and operations; stepped down July 2023; remains employee and subsidiary officer |
| 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. | President | Sep 2000 – Apr 2022 | Long-standing operating leadership |
| 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. (Consumer Floral Brand) | SVP; President of Consumer Floral Brand | Jul 2010 – Oct 2013 | Brand leadership and operations |
| 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. | Director | Since inception | Board service; not independent; no committee assignments |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marist College | Board of Trustees Member | Ongoing | Higher-education governance |
| Kinexion (parent of IGHL) | Vice Chairman | Ongoing | Non-profit network leadership |
Board Governance
- Independence: The Board determined that all directors other than James F. McCann and Christopher G. McCann qualify as independent; C.G. McCann is not independent and is an employee.
- Committees: Not a member of Audit, Compensation, Nominating & Corporate Governance, or Technology & Cybersecurity; no chair roles.
- Attendance: In FY2025, the Board met 5 times; all incumbent directors attended at least 75% of Board and relevant committee meetings. In FY2024, the Board met 6 times; all incumbent directors attended at least 75%.
- Board leadership: Company has no lead independent director; Executive Chairman role held by James F. McCann.
- Anti-hedging/pledging: Directors, officers, and employees are prohibited from hedging and pledging Company stock; margin purchases are restricted.
Fixed Compensation
Employee compensation for Christopher G. McCann (he does not receive director fees):
| Component ($) | FY2024 | FY2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Salary | 412,500 | 50,000 |
| Stock Awards (Grant-Date Fair Value) | 1,107,614 | 99,995 |
| Personal Use of Company Car | 46,782 | 50,123 |
| Company 401(k) Contribution | 750 | 750 |
| Total | 1,567,646 | 200,868 |
Notes:
- He did not receive director retainer or director equity; employee compensation reflects his status as an employee director.
Performance Compensation
Outstanding awards and vesting status:
| Metric | FY2024 | FY2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Unvested Stock Awards (#) | 110,207 | 90,032 |
| Options Outstanding (#) | 198,002 | 198,002 |
| Options Exercisable (#) | 66,001 | 132,002 |
| Options Unexercisable (#) | 132,001 | 66,000 |
| Option Exercise Price ($/sh) | 8.59 | 8.59 |
| Option Expiration | Nov 8, 2032 | Nov 8, 2032 |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
- Family control and group voting: The McCann Family Group (including C.G. McCann in multiple capacities as trustee/general partner) beneficially owns 27.7% of Class A and 24.8% of Class B; members have agreed to vote as a group under a Stockholders’ Agreement overseen by the McCann Family Committee.
- Related-party employment: His daughter, Jenna Messer, is Senior Vice President, Direct Marketing (FY2025 comp $290,000; 6,285 restricted shares granted). His nephew, James F. McCann III, is Director, Enterprise Strategy & Business Development (FY2025 comp $160,000). Both were approved by independent directors.
- Related-party lease: The Company subleases office space to Clarim Holdings, LLC, controlled by Executive Chairman James F. McCann; FY2025 rent and utilities received totaled $371,194; a new sublease effective Sep 2025 provides for $144,000 per year plus expenses.
Expertise & Qualifications
- Deep operational knowledge from 30+ years across CEO, President, and brand leadership roles; offers unique insight into day-to-day operations and strategic vision.
- Prior service on other public company boards provides board-level experience (names not disclosed).
Equity Ownership
Beneficial ownership (direct and indirect):
| Metric | As of Oct 18, 2024 | As of Oct 13, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Class A Shares Beneficially Owned (#) | 3,445,957 | 3,508,296 |
| Class A Ownership (%) | 9.3% | 9.6% |
| Class B Shares Beneficially Owned (#) | 6,725,640 | 6,725,640 |
| Class B Ownership (%) | 24.8% | 24.8% |
| Family Group Class A Ownership (%) | 27.4% | 27.7% |
| Family Group Class B Ownership (%) | 24.8% | 24.8% |
Policy note: Company prohibits hedging and pledging by insiders.
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Significant share ownership aligns interests; extensive operating experience; attendance met minimum thresholds; anti-hedging policy in place.
- Concerns/RED FLAGS:
- Non-independence due to employment and familial ties (brother of Executive Chairman); no committee assignments, limiting independent oversight in key areas.
- Concentrated family control via dual-class structure and Stockholders’ Agreement, creating potential entrenchment and minority shareholder governance risk.
- Related-party transactions (family member employment; sublease to Clarim) require ongoing scrutiny; though approved by independent directors, they represent conflict exposure.
- Absence of a lead independent director reduces counterbalance to executive/family influence.
Additional context:
- Non-employee director compensation policy: $50,000 annual retainer; committee chair fees ($20,000 Audit; $15,000 Compensation; $10,000 Nominating; $10,000 Technology); $100,000 annual restricted stock grant; employee directors (including C.G. McCann) do not receive director compensation.
- Board attendance outcomes: All directors ≥75% attendance in FY2025 and FY2024.