Anja Manuel
Hims & Hers HealthAbout Anja Manuel
Anja Manuel (age 50) is an independent director of Hims & Hers (HIMS), serving on the Audit and Risk Committees. She joined the Board in April 2024; core credentials include co-founding Rice, Hadley, Gates & Manuel LLC, Executive Director of the Aspen Strategy Group and Aspen Security Forum, prior service at the U.S. State Department, and expertise in foreign policy and technology policy. She holds a BA and MA in International Policy Studies from Stanford and a J.D. from Harvard Law School .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. State Department | Official | Not disclosed | Government relations/regulatory experience |
| WilmerHale | Attorney | Not disclosed | Legal/regulatory background |
| Salomon Brothers | Investment banker | Not disclosed | Capital markets experience |
| Stanford University | Lecturer and research affiliate | 2009–2019; 2024–present | Courses on U.S. Foreign Policy in Asia and Technology Policy |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rice, Hadley, Gates & Manuel LLC | Co-founder and Partner | Since 2009 | Strategic consulting on international markets/regulatory issues |
| Aspen Strategy Group & Aspen Security Forum | Executive Director | Since Jan 2022 | Bipartisan forum leadership in foreign policy |
| Ripple Labs, Inc. (private) | Director | Since Aug 2017 | Blockchain payments company board |
| Overseas Shipping Group, Inc. (public) | Director | Jun 2017–Jun 2023 | Public company board experience |
| U.S. Defense Department Policy Board | Advisory member | Not disclosed | Public policy advisory role |
Board Governance
- Independence: The Board determined Ms. Manuel is independent under NYSE rules; Hims is a “controlled company,” but maintains majority independent directors and fully independent Audit and Compensation Committees .
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee member; Risk Committee member. Audit meets at least quarterly; Risk meets at least twice per year. Mr. Wells is Audit Chair; Mr. Payne is Risk Chair .
- Attendance: In 2024, the Board met five times; each director attended at least 75% of all meetings of the Board and committees on which they served. All directors attended the 2024 annual meeting .
- Oversight: Audit Committee oversees related party transactions and cybersecurity; Risk Committee oversees enterprise risk and strategic growth risks (regulatory, compliance, operational) .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Policy / Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Board member annual cash retainer | $40,000 | Standard cash retainer |
| Audit Committee member fee | $10,000 | Member retainer |
| Risk Committee member fee | $4,000 | Member retainer |
| Initial Equity Award | $400,000 value | RSUs, vests 1/3 annually over 3 years; increased to $400k in Feb 2024 |
| Annual Equity Award | $200,000 value | RSUs, vests in full by next annual meeting or 12 months |
2024 actual compensation for Anja Manuel:
| Item | Amount ($) |
|---|---|
| Fees Earned or Paid in Cash | 38,209 |
| Stock Awards (RSUs) | 525,315 |
| Total | 563,524 |
- Mix: Director pay is heavily equity-oriented; equity awards are time-based RSUs without performance conditions for directors .
Performance Compensation
- Performance-based elements tied to director compensation: None disclosed for non-employee directors; equity grants are time-based RSUs (Initial and Annual Equity Awards) .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Public/Private | Role | Interlock/Conflict Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overseas Shipping Group, Inc. | Public | Former Director | No Hims-related transactions disclosed |
| Ripple Labs, Inc. | Private | Director | No Hims-related transactions disclosed |
| Rice, Hadley, Gates & Manuel LLC | Private | Partner | No consulting arrangement with Hims disclosed; board affirmed independence |
| Aspen Strategy Group / Aspen Security Forum | Non-profit/forum | Executive Director | Governance and policy leadership; no conflicts disclosed |
| U.S. Defense Department Policy Board | Government advisory | Advisory member | Public policy advisory; no conflicts disclosed |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Government relations, regulatory matters, foreign policy, and technology policy expertise; experience expanding into international markets .
- Legal and capital markets background (WilmerHale; Salomon Brothers); author of “This Brave New World: India, China and the United States” .
- Public company board experience (Overseas Shipping Group, Inc.) and private technology board experience (Ripple Labs) .
- Education: BA/MA in International Policy Studies (Stanford); J.D. (Harvard Law School) .
Equity Ownership
| Detail | Shares/Units |
|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership (Apr 16, 2025) | 24,975 total; includes 5,000 Class A shares + 19,975 RSUs vesting within 60 days |
| RSUs outstanding (Dec 31, 2024) | 40,055 RSUs |
| Ownership guidelines | Non-employee directors required to hold 5x annual cash retainer; as of Dec 31, 2024, all individuals subject to guidelines were in compliance |
| Hedging/pledging | Prohibited under Insider Trading Policy |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent director with deep regulatory and international policy expertise; service on Audit and Risk aligns with oversight needs (financial controls, cybersecurity, enterprise risk). No related-party transactions or consulting arrangements involving Ms. Manuel disclosed, supporting independence and investor confidence .
- Alignment: Director compensation is equity-heavy via RSUs; stock ownership guidelines (5x cash retainer) in place, and compliance affirmed as of year-end 2024; hedging and pledging prohibited—positive for alignment .
- Attendance/Engagement: Board and committees met regularly; minimum 75% attendance standard met in 2024; Audit meets at least quarterly; Risk at least semiannually—indicates ongoing engagement .
- Watch items: Controlled company status concentrates voting power with CEO/Chair; though Board remains majority independent and key committees are fully independent, investors should monitor committee independence and performance in light of the governance exemptions available to controlled companies .