Laurie Harris
About Laurie Harris
Laurie Harris, age 66, is an independent director of Hagerty, Inc. and serves as Chair of the Audit Committee; she has been on Hagerty’s board since 2019 (pre-IPO) and continued post-listing in 2021. A Certified Public Accountant, Harris was a global engagement audit partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers from 1994 until retiring in 2018 and is designated an “audit committee financial expert.” She holds a BS in Business Administration/Accounting (summa cum laude) from the University of Southern California and currently chairs audit committees at International Workplace Group plc and Synchronoss Technologies Inc.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP | Global Engagement Audit Partner | 1994–2018 | Led global audit engagements; deep technical accounting and audit oversight experience |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Workplace Group plc | Director; Audit Committee Chair | Since May 2019 | Audit leadership for global workspace/co-working platform |
| Synchronoss Technologies Inc. | Director; Audit Committee Chair; Nominating & Governance Committee Member | Since July 2019 | Audit oversight; governance committee contribution in tech/cloud platforms |
Board Governance
- Independence: The Board has determined all directors other than the CEO (McKeel Hagerty) are independent under NYSE and SEC rules; eight of nine nominees in 2025 are independent. Harris is independent.
- Committee leadership: Audit Committee Chair; Harris is designated an “audit committee financial expert” (Reg S‑K 407(d)(5)). The Audit Committee oversees financial reporting, internal controls, auditor independence, ERM and cybersecurity.
- Attendance and engagement: In 2024, the Board met 7 times; Audit 6; Nominating & Governance 5; Compensation 10; Finance & Capital 8. All directors attended at least 75% of meetings of the Board and committees on which they served.
- Board leadership/executive sessions: Independent Lead Director (Bill Swanson) leads executive sessions and approves agendas/schedules; Chair/CEO roles combined with strong lead director oversight.
Meeting Activity (2024)
| Body | Meetings Held | Harris Attendance |
|---|---|---|
| Board of Directors | 7 | ≥75% for all directors |
| Audit Committee | 6 | ≥75% for committee members |
| Nominating & Governance Committee | 5 | ≥75% for committee members |
| Compensation Committee | 10 | ≥75% for committee members |
| Finance & Capital Committee | 8 | ≥75% for committee members |
Fixed Compensation
| Item (2024) | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|
| Fees earned or paid in cash | $101,250 |
| Stock awards (RSUs; grant-date fair value) | $90,000 (granted based on 3/31/2024 close; vests 100% on 4/1/2025) |
| All other compensation | $5,000 (service on Hagerty Re board committee) |
| Total | $196,250 |
Director Compensation Structure (effective 4/1/2025)
| Component | Amount/Terms |
|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $85,000 |
| Annual equity grant | RSUs valued at $125,000 (based on 3/31/2025 close), vests 100% on 4/1/2026 |
| Chair retainers | Audit Chair $20,000; Compensation Chair $15,000; Nominating & Governance Chair $10,000; Finance & Capital Chair $10,000 |
| Committee membership retainers | Audit $10,000; Compensation $7,500; Nominating & Governance $5,000; Finance & Capital $5,000 |
| Hagerty Re board service | $5,000 |
| Stock ownership guideline | Directors: 5× annual retainer ($425,000 target holding) |
Performance Compensation
- Hagerty’s non-employee directors receive time-based RSUs; no performance-based director awards or options are disclosed. 2024 director RSUs vest 100% on 4/1/2025; 2025 director RSUs vest 100% on 4/1/2026.
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Sector | Role | Overlap/Conflict Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| International Workplace Group plc | Real estate/services (co-working) | Director; Audit Chair | No Hagerty-related party transactions disclosed with IWG; no direct customer/supplier overlap noted in proxy – |
| Synchronoss Technologies Inc. | Tech/cloud | Director; Audit Chair; Nominating & Governance | No Hagerty-related party transactions disclosed with Synchronoss; no direct customer/supplier overlap noted in proxy – |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Certified Public Accountant; former PwC global engagement audit partner; deep GAAP/ICFR expertise.
- Audit Committee Financial Expert designation; experienced in auditor oversight, ERM, cybersecurity oversight within Audit Committee purview.
- Governance experience via chair roles on external public company audit committees and service on nominating & governance.
- Education: BS, Business Administration/Accounting (summa cum laude), University of Southern California.
Equity Ownership
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership (as of 4/4/2025) | 16,521 shares; less than 1% of outstanding common stock |
| Director stock ownership guideline | $425,000 (5× $85,000 retainer); directors have 5 years to meet |
| Compliance status disclosure | As of the proxy date, CEO and directors Rob Kauffman and Bill Swanson met guidelines; Harris not listed among those meeting threshold |
| Hedging/pledging | Company policy restricts hedging/monetization and pledging without Board/CLO approval; no pledging/hedging by Harris disclosed |
Governance Assessment
- Effectiveness: Harris strengthens audit oversight as Chair and designated financial expert; Audit Committee has explicit remit over financial reporting quality, internal audit independence, ERM and cybersecurity—key for investor confidence in a controlled company structure.
- Independence: Confirmed by Board; her external board roles are outside Hagerty’s customer/supplier ecosystem; no related-party transactions involving Harris are disclosed. –
- Engagement: Attendance met or exceeded the 75% threshold; committee meeting cadence indicates active oversight (Audit met 6 times in 2024).
- Alignment: Receives standard non-employee director cash/equity mix; RSUs are time-based; stock ownership guideline exists, and Harris is not disclosed as having met it yet—monitor for progress over time.
- RED FLAGS: None identified specific to Harris. Section 16(a) compliance shows no delinquencies reported for directors other than a late filing by an officer (Kevin Delaney); no insider-related conflicts tied to Harris are noted. –
Audit Committee Report Signature
- The 2024 Audit Committee Report was submitted by Laurie Harris (Chair), Rob Kauffman, and Mika Salmi.