Edward Bryant, Jr.
About Edward Bryant, Jr.
Edward (“Junior”) Bryant, Jr., age 54, has served as an independent director of Guild Holdings Company since October 2020 and is classified as a Class III director with a term expiring at the 2026 Annual Meeting . He is Executive Director of Business Development at HGGC (since 2018), holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s in legal studies from UCLA School of Law, and previously completed a 10‑year NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers, retiring in 2003 . The Board has affirmatively determined Mr. Bryant is independent under NYSE standards, and he regularly participates in independent director executive sessions as chair of Nominating & Corporate Governance .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| HGGC (private equity) | Executive Director, Business Development | 2018–present | Investor relations and deal sourcing background |
| Pacific Global Investment Management Company | Vice President; National Marketing & Sales Director | 2011–2017 | Capital markets distribution leadership |
| Smith & Bryant, Inc. (real estate investment) | Co‑founder; Vice President | 1998–2010 | Real estate investing experience |
| San Francisco 49ers (NFL) | Defensive Lineman | 10‑year career; retired 2003 | Team leadership and discipline |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Public Company? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| HGGC | Executive Director, Business Development | No (firm) | PE investing; business development |
| Pacific Global Investment Management Company | VP; National Marketing & Sales Director | No (firm) | Asset management distribution |
| Smith & Bryant, Inc. | Co‑founder; Vice President | No (private) | Real estate investing |
No other public company directorships for Mr. Bryant are disclosed in the proxy .
Board Governance
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Independence | Independent under NYSE standards |
| Board tenure | Director since October 2020; Class III (term expires 2026) |
| Committee memberships (2024) | Audit Committee (Member), Compensation Committee (Member), Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee (Chair) |
| Executive sessions | Presides over independent director executive sessions as Nominating & Corporate Governance Chair |
| Attendance | Each incumbent director attended ≥75% of Board and relevant committee meetings; all directors attended the 2024 Annual Meeting |
| Board activity levels (2024) | Board met 4 times; Audit met 4; Compensation met 4; Nominating & Corporate Governance met 3 |
Fixed Compensation
| Component (2024) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual Board cash retainer | $50,000 |
| Audit Committee member fee | $10,000 |
| Compensation Committee member fee | $7,500 |
| Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee chair fee | $10,000 |
| Total 2024 cash fees (Bryant) | $77,500 |
Performance Compensation
| Equity Award | Grant Date | Shares Granted | Grant Date Fair Value | Vesting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual RSU (Director) | May 8, 2024 | 7,796 | $110,002 | Vests on date of 2025 Annual Meeting, subject to continued service |
| Dividend Equivalent Units (DEUs) from $0.50 special dividend | June 6, 2024 | Accrued as additional RSUs | $3,898 (value reflected as All Other Compensation) | DEUs vest with underlying RSUs; forfeited if RSUs forfeit |
Performance metrics tied to director compensation: None disclosed; director RSUs are time‑based, not performance‑conditioned .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current public company boards | None disclosed for Mr. Bryant |
| Committee interlocks | Compensation Committee composed solely of independent directors; no interlocks or insider participation disclosed |
| Significant shareholder influence | McCarthy Partners (via MCMI) controls 100% of Class B (94.9% combined voting power), with Chair Patrick J. Duffy as managing partner—context for governance dynamics |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Real estate investing and advisory experience from Smith & Bryant, Inc.; investing and company advisory experience cited as qualifications for Board service .
- Private equity business development background at HGGC; capital markets distribution expertise from Pacific Global IMC .
- Education: BBA (University of Notre Dame); Master’s in Legal Studies (UCLA School of Law) .
Equity Ownership
| Measure | Amount |
|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership (Class A shares) | 22,238; less than 1% |
| RSUs vesting within 60 days (included in beneficial ownership) | 8,042 |
| Aggregate RSUs outstanding at 12/31/2024 | 8,042 (including DEUs) |
| Pledging/Hedging | Company policy prohibits pledging and hedging of company stock by directors |
| Director ownership guideline | 5x annual cash retainer for non‑executive directors; compliance deadline March 31, 2027 for those covered at adoption |
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: Bryant is independent, serves on Audit and Compensation, and chairs Nominating & Corporate Governance—positioning him to influence board composition, ESG oversight, and governance practices; he also presides over independent director sessions, enhancing oversight quality .
- Alignment and attendance: Director compensation blends cash retainers with annual RSUs that vest over one year, with documented meeting participation thresholds met in 2024 and full Annual Meeting attendance, supporting engagement .
- Compensation structure: No director stock options; time‑based RSUs only; DEUs accrue on dividends, standard for alignment without riskier option structures; no director‑specific performance metrics disclosed, reducing complexity and potential pay anomalies .
- Conflicts/related party exposure: No related‑party transactions involving Mr. Bryant disclosed for 2024; company maintains formal related‑party review and approval via Audit Committee .
- Consultant independence: Compensation Committee uses Meridian as independent consultant; Committee concluded no conflicts of interest, which supports pay governance integrity .
- RED FLAGS:
- Dual‑class capital and concentrated voting control (Class B at 94.9% combined voting power through McCarthy Partners/MCMI) may limit minority shareholder influence on board composition and governance outcomes .
- Tax gross‑ups appear in executive “All Other Compensation” for President’s Club expenses, but not applicable to directors; monitor policy consistency and shareholder perceptions over time .
- Risk mitigants: Prohibition on hedging/pledging, annual board and committee self‑assessments, and clawback policy adopted in November 2023 for executive incentive compensation (though clawback primarily applies to officers) .