Angela Brock-Kyle
About Angela Brock-Kyle
Independent Trustee of Guggenheim Strategic Opportunities Fund (GOF); year of birth 1959, with tenure on the GOF Board since 2019. Background includes 25 years in leadership roles at TIAA, founder/CEO of governance consultancy B.O.A.R.D.S. (2013–2023), and extensive public/private/non-profit board service; professional training in law and business with deep experience in audit, governance, and nominating work .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.O.A.R.D.S. (consulting firm) | Founder & Chief Executive Officer | 2013–2023 | Governance advisory; prior audit chair and governance/nomination committee experience noted across boards |
| TIAA (financial services) | Senior Leader | 1987–2012 | Financial, regulatory, governance, investment experience |
| Infinity Property & Casualty Corp. | Director | 2014–2018 | Board service (committee specifics not disclosed here) |
| Bowhead Insurance GP, LLC | Director | 2020–Sept. 2024 | Board service (committee specifics not disclosed here) |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunt Companies, Inc. | Director | 2019–present | External directorship |
| Mutual Fund Directors Forum | Director/Member | 2022–present | Governance industry forum |
| Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc. | Director | May 2024–present | External directorship (company type not specified here) |
Board Governance
- Classification: GOF Trustee; Class I (next expected election in 2026) .
- Independence: Independent Trustee under 1940 Act and Rule 10A‑3; board is 7 trustees, 6 independent, with Independent Chair (Ronald E. Toupin, Jr.) .
- Committee memberships (Brock-Kyle): Audit; Nominating & Governance; Contracts Review; Valuation Oversight (not on Executive Committee) .
- Audit Committee: All members meet NYSE independence; chaired by Sandra G. Sponem .
- Attendance: Each Trustee attended at least 75% of Board/committee meetings in FY ended 5/31/2024 .
| Body | Meetings (FY ended 5/31/2024) |
|---|---|
| Board | 6 |
| Audit Committee | 7 |
| Nominating & Governance Committee | 3 |
| Contracts Review Committee | 2 |
| Valuation Oversight Committee | 4 |
Fixed Compensation
- Structure: Cash-based annual retainer from Fund Complex; additional annual retainer fees for Independent Chair and chairs of Audit, Contracts Review, Nominating & Governance, Valuation Oversight; fees paid for special meetings; no pension/retirement accruals; fund-level cost allocation by per‑capita and net assets .
| Metric | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Total compensation from Fund Complex (USD) | $352,500 |
| Aggregate compensation paid by GOF (USD, calendar 2024) | $33,653 |
| Aggregate compensation paid by GBAB (USD, calendar 2024) | $16,540 |
| Aggregate compensation paid by GUG (USD, calendar 2024) | $18,657 |
| Pension/Retirement Benefits | None |
| Note | Compensation amounts changed effective January 1, 2025 (new levels not disclosed here) |
Performance Compensation
| Element | Disclosure |
|---|---|
| Equity grants (RSUs/PSUs) | Not disclosed; independent trustee pay described as cash retainers and fees |
| Options | Not disclosed |
| Performance metrics (revenue/EBITDA/TSR/ESG) tied to pay | None disclosed for trustees; Board has no standing compensation committee |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Entity | Relationship | Potential Interlock/Conflict Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hunt Companies, Inc. | External directorship | No advisory/sub‑adviser interest—independence affirmed for Independent Trustees and their immediate families as of 12/31/2024 |
| Mutual Fund Directors Forum | Governance forum | Industry governance role; no related-party interest with Adviser/Sub‑Adviser |
| Bowhead Specialty Holdings Inc. | External directorship | No related-party interest with Adviser/Sub‑Adviser disclosed |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Financial, accounting, regulatory, governance, and investment experience; prior audit chair and governance/nominating committee service .
- Professional training in law and business; 25-year leadership tenure at TIAA; multi-sector board experience .
Equity Ownership
| Fund | Dollar Range of Equity Securities Beneficially Owned (as of 12/31/2024) |
|---|---|
| GOF | $10,001–$50,000 |
| GBAB | $0–$10,000 |
| GUG | $50,001–$100,000 |
| Aggregate across Fund Complex overseen | Over $100,000 |
| Group ownership (Trustees & officers as a whole) | <1% of outstanding Shares of each Fund |
- Pledging/Hedging: No pledging or hedging disclosures noted in the proxy for trustees; none of the Independent Trustees nor their immediate family had interests in the Adviser/Sub‑Adviser entities as of 12/31/2024 .
Governance Assessment
-
Strengths:
- Independence: Clear independence under 1940 Act/Rule 10A‑3 and explicit statement of no Adviser/Sub‑Adviser interests for Independent Trustees/families as of 12/31/2024—reduces related‑party risk .
- Committee coverage: Brock‑Kyle serves on Audit, Nominating & Governance, Contracts Review, and Valuation Oversight—comprehensive oversight touchpoints across financial reporting, board composition, contract economics, and valuation controls .
- Board structure: Independent Chair with supermajority independent trustees; committees composed solely of independent trustees (except Valuation Oversight includes all trustees)—strong governance design .
- Engagement: Each Trustee above 75% attendance; GOF held 6 Board and 16 total committee meetings in FY ended 5/31/2024—demonstrates active oversight cadence .
-
Watch items:
- Alignment: Trustees and officers as a group own <1% of shares; individual dollar‑range holdings are modest—typical for closed‑end fund boards, but limited economic alignment remains a consideration for some investors .
- Compensation transparency: Cash‑only retainer/fees are disclosed but 2025 pay level changes are noted without detail—monitor for upward shifts or expanded fee categories .
- RED FLAGS: None disclosed regarding related‑party transactions, tax gross‑ups, change‑of‑control benefits, or option repricing for trustees in the proxy .