Laura Linehan
About Laura Linehan
Laura Linehan (born 1968) has served on GAB’s Board since November 9, 2022; her current term runs until the 2026 Annual Meeting. She is deemed an “interested person” of the Fund due to a previous business or professional relationship with the Fund and its Adviser, Gabelli Funds, LLC, rather than an independent director. Her background includes investment research and portfolio management; she holds an MBA from the Wharton School and a BA from Lehigh University. She is currently listed as a Private Investor and oversees one portfolio in the Fund Complex .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| GAMCO | Research Analyst (Broadcast & Publishing) | Joined May 1995 | Investment research coverage |
| TETON Westwood Mighty Mites Fund (sub-advised) | Co-Portfolio Manager | Named 1998 | Co-PM for small-cap strategy |
| GAMCO | Director of Research | Promoted 1999 | Led research function |
| TETON Westwood Mighty Mites Fund | Consultant | Until 2018 | Ongoing fund advisory support |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | — | No other public company directorships disclosed in past five years (excluding other funds) |
Board Governance
- Classification and independence: Linehan is an “interested person” of the Fund (not independent) due to a prior business/professional relationship with the Fund and Adviser .
- Board structure: 11 Directors; eight are Independent. The Board is divided into three classes with three-year terms. Linehan serves in the class expiring at the 2026 Annual Meeting .
- Committees: The Board has Audit and Nominating Committees and ad hoc Proxy Voting and Pricing Committees; Independent Directors chair all committees . Audit Committee members are Heitmann (Chair), Conn, and Zizza; the Nominating Committee is Fahrenkopf (Chair) and Zizza . Linehan is not listed as a member of these committees .
- Lead Independent Director: James P. Conn serves as Lead Independent Director, and is on the Audit Committee and the ad hoc Proxy Voting Committee .
- Attendance: In FY2024, the Board met four times (regular quarterly meetings); each Director then serving attended at least 75% of Board meetings and of any committee of which he or she was a member .
- Oversight and risk: Board oversight spans investment, valuation, compliance; Independent Directors meet in executive session regularly; the Audit Charter was reviewed/approved February 13, 2025 .
Fixed Compensation
| Component (FY2024) | Amount | Basis/Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Annual retainer | $15,000 | Paid to Independent and certain Interested Directors |
| Board meeting fees | $8,000 | 4 meetings × $2,000 per meeting in FY2024 |
| Committee membership fees | — | $1,000 per committee meeting; no committee memberships disclosed for Linehan |
| Chair fees | — | Chair fees apply to specific committee roles (Audit $3,000; Proxy Voting $1,500; Nominating $2,000); not applicable to Linehan |
| Aggregate compensation from the Fund | $23,000 | Matches retainer + meeting fees |
| Aggregate compensation from Fund Complex | $23,000 (1 fund) | Number in parentheses indicates funds/portfolios (1) |
The Fund’s aggregate remuneration to Directors (excluding expenses) totaled $220,000 in FY2024; each Director is reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses .
Performance Compensation
- No performance-based pay (bonuses, options, RSUs/PSUs) is disclosed for Directors; director pay is cash-based via retainers and meeting/committee fees .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Other public company boards | None disclosed for Linehan in past five years (excluding other funds) |
| Complex-wide roles | Unlike other Directors, Linehan is the only Director not serving on other investment companies in the Fund Complex |
| Committee interlocks | Not on Audit or Nominating; Independent Directors chair all committees |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Investment research and portfolio management experience (Broadcast & Publishing coverage; co-PM of TETON Westwood Mighty Mites Fund; Director of Research) .
- Education: MBA (Wharton), BA (Lehigh University) .
- Current occupation: Private Investor .
Equity Ownership
| Measure | Fund (GAB) | Fund Complex |
|---|---|---|
| Dollar range | A = None | C = $10,001–$50,000 |
| Shares beneficially owned | 0 Common Stock | Not itemized; aggregate dollar range noted |
| % of shares outstanding | <1% (asterisk indicates less than 1%) | — |
Dollar range keys: A=None; B=$1–$10,000; C=$10,001–$50,000; D=$50,001–$100,000; E=Over $100,000. Values as of December 31, 2024 .
Governance Assessment
- Independence and conflicts: Linehan’s classification as an “interested person” of the Fund (due to prior business/professional relationship with the Fund/Adviser) is a governance red flag for board independence and may limit participation in key oversight committees (Audit, Nominating), which are led by Independent Directors .
- Ownership alignment: Zero share ownership in GAB and “None” dollar-range classification in the Fund suggests limited direct alignment; modest aggregate ownership across the Fund Complex ($10,001–$50,000) provides some exposure but not to GAB specifically .
- Engagement: The Board held four meetings in FY2024 and all Directors met at least the 75% attendance threshold; Linehan’s FY2024 cash compensation aligns with retainer plus meeting fees, indicating consistent attendance at scheduled Board meetings .
- Committee influence: No committee memberships are disclosed for Linehan; the most critical oversight committees (Audit; Nominating) are populated by Independent Directors, concentrating formal oversight authority away from interested directors .
- Net signal: Governance confidence is moderated by interested-director status and lack of GAB share ownership; however, professional investment background and steady board meeting participation support baseline effectiveness. Investors should monitor any evolution in committee participation, independence status, and ownership to improve alignment and oversight posture .