David Eun
About David Eun
David Eun (age 58) is an independent director at Howard Hughes Holdings Inc. (HHH), serving since May 2023. He is Chair of the Technology Committee and a member of the Audit Committee, with a background spanning corporate innovation, technology, and media; he co-founded Alakai Group, and previously served as Chief Innovation Officer at Samsung Electronics and Executive Vice Chairman at Archegos Capital Management for March–April 2021. He holds degrees from Harvard College and Harvard Law School. Independence has been affirmed by the Board under NYSE standards.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alakai Group, LLC | Co-Founder | Current (as of 2025 proxy) | Thesis-driven acquirer using permanent capital; operator/owner experience brought to HHH board deliberations |
| Archegos Capital Management LP | Executive Vice Chairman | Mar 2021 – Apr 2021 | Brief tenure; relevant to reputational risk considerations for governance analysis |
| Samsung Electronics | Chief Innovation Officer; Founder/President, Samsung NEXT | 2012 – 2020 | Corporate innovation, venture/M&A, product and partner ecosystem building (technology and AI relevance) |
| AOL | President, AOL Media | Prior to 2012 | Senior operating role in digital media; content and monetization expertise |
| Google/YouTube | Global Head of Content Partnerships & Business Development | Prior to 2012 | Strategic partnerships, platform growth; digital ecosystem expertise |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Public/Private | Tenure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other current public company boards | None | — | — |
| Alakai Group, LLC | Co-Founder | Private | Current |
Board Governance
- Committees: Technology (Chair) and Audit (Member). The Technology Committee (all independent directors) oversees technology and AI strategy/risk, digital strategy, and cybersecurity recommendations; the Audit Committee (all independent) oversees financial reporting, internal controls, compliance, financial risk, and cybersecurity/data privacy after the Risk Committee was dissolved in June 2025.
- Meetings and attendance: In 2024 the Board met 10 times; Technology 4; Audit 5; executive sessions of independent directors were held 5 times. All directors attended at least 75% of Board and committee meetings.
- Independence: The Board determined Mr. Eun is independent under NYSE standards.
- Governance environment and potential conflicts: HHH has extensive related-party and governance arrangements with Pershing Square (Shareholder Agreement, Services Agreement, Registration Rights, Standstill) including PS designee rights, consent rights on major actions, a fee-bearing services agreement, a 40% voting cap, and ownership/transfer restrictions—mitigated by disinterested director approvals and special committees for conflicts. Mr. Eun is not identified as a PS designee.
Fixed Compensation
- Non-employee director program (2024): $220,000 total annual retainer paid as $145,000 in restricted stock and $75,000 in cash; additional retainers for committee service/chair roles (e.g., Audit Chair $30k; Audit Member $15k; Compensation Chair $20k; Member $10k; N&CG/Technology Chair $15k; Member $10k). RSU grants vest at the earlier of the next annual meeting or June 1 of the following year; directors may elect to receive up to all cash retainer in stock.
- 2024 actual for David Eun: $96,250 cash, $145,000 restricted stock; total $241,250 (includes committee retainers).
| 2024 Director Pay (USD) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Cash fees | $96,250 |
| Restricted stock awards (grant-date fair value) | $145,000 |
| Total | $241,250 |
| Vesting for annual RSU | Earlier of next annual meeting or June 1 following year |
Performance Compensation
- Non-employee directors at HHH do not receive performance-based cash bonuses or PSUs; equity compensation for directors is time-based restricted stock under published guidelines. The 2025 Equity Incentive Plan imposes a $950,000 director annual cap (cash plus grant-date equity), one-year minimum vesting (with limited exceptions), no option repricing, and clawback provisions.
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current public company boards | None |
| Compensation Committee interlocks | Not identified as interlocked; 2024 interlocks listed did not include Mr. Eun |
| Related-party transactions | None disclosed involving Mr. Eun; related-party reviews governed by Audit Committee policy |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Skills matrix attributes Mr. Eun with operations, marketing, technology, financial expertise, and social/corporate governance—aligned with his role as Technology Chair.
- Committee mandates include AI oversight, technology strategy, and risk—areas aligned with his Samsung and platform background.
Equity Ownership
| Metric | Amount/Status |
|---|---|
| Total beneficial ownership | 6,430 shares (<1% of outstanding) |
| Restricted stock included | 2,094 shares; sole voting, no dispositive power; expected to vest at earlier of 2026 annual meeting or June 1, 2026 |
| Stock ownership guidelines | 5x $165,000 retainer within 5 years for directors appointed on/after May 14, 2013 |
| Compliance status (board-wide) | As of Aug 4, 2025, each director was compliant and/or within initial grace period |
| Pledging/hedging | Prohibited by policy (no hedging, pledging, short sales, margin accounts, or limit orders) |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent director with deep technology/innovation credentials; chairs Technology Committee and serves on Audit, reinforcing oversight of AI/cyber/tech alongside financial reporting; strong attendance culture and independent executive sessions; director equity promotes alignment; hedging/pledging prohibited.
- Compensation/ownership alignment: Balanced mix (~60% equity grant by value) and clear guidelines, with vesting tied to annual meeting cadence; Eun’s 2024 total $241,250 aligns with committee workload.
- Potential risks/red flags to monitor: Brief 2021 Archegos association presents potential reputational sensitivity despite no disclosed issues at HHH; continued diligence appropriate. Board-level related-party structures with Pershing Square (services fees, consent rights, voting cap) create a complex governance context requiring robust independent oversight by directors like Eun. No Section 16 filing issues disclosed for Eun.
Overall, Eun’s independence, technology leadership, and audit participation are supportive of board effectiveness and investor confidence, provided the Board maintains rigorous conflict management and independent processes around Pershing Square-related matters.