Egbert L. J. Perry
About Egbert L. J. Perry
Egbert L. J. Perry (age 69) is an Independent Director of Anywhere Real Estate Inc. (HOUS), serving since January 2023, and is Chairman & CEO of The Integral Group LLC (founded 1993), a real estate development, advisory and investment firm focused on mixed‑income urban communities and affordable/workforce housing . He previously served on Fannie Mae’s Board from December 2008 to December 2018, including as Chairman from 2014 through the end of his tenure . The Board affirms his independence under NYSE standards and the company’s criteria; all standing committees are composed solely of Independent Directors . He is a member of the Compensation & Talent Management Committee (since May 2023) .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fannie Mae | Director; Chairman of the Board | Director: Dec 2008–Dec 2018; Chairman: 2014–2018 | Leadership of mortgage GSE oversight; governance in housing finance |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Integral Group LLC | Chairman & Chief Executive Officer | 1993–present | Urban real estate development, advisory and investment; mixed‑income/mixed‑use communities; affordable/workforce housing focus |
Board Governance
- Committee membership: Compensation & Talent Management Committee – Member (meetings held in 2024: 5) .
- Independence: The Board determined all Directors other than the CEO are independent; all Audit, Compensation & Talent Management, Nominating & Corporate Governance, and Product & Technology Committee members are Independent Directors .
- Attendance: In 2024, the full Board held 16 meetings, and each Director attended at least 75% of the aggregate meetings of the Board and their committees; 12 Directors attended the 2024 Annual Meeting (virtual) .
- Leadership structure: Independent Chairman (Michael J. Williams), with frequent independent executive sessions and robust investor outreach led by the Chairman and Compensation Committee Chair .
| Committee | Role | Meetings Held in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Compensation & Talent Management | Member | 5 |
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount ($) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Director Retainer – Cash | 90,000 | Standard cash retainer for Independent Directors |
| Compensation & Talent Mgmt Committee – Member Retainer | 15,000 | Paid to committee members in addition to director cash retainer |
| Fees Earned or Paid in Cash (2024) | 105,000 | Perry’s total 2024 cash fees (90,000 + 15,000) |
| Stock Awards (RSUs) – Grant Date Fair Value (May 2024) | 160,004 | Annual director equity retainer (RSUs vest 1 year from grant) |
| Total Director Compensation (2024) | 265,004 | Sum of cash and equity grant-date fair values |
| Unvested RSUs (12/31/2024) | 31,435 | Unvested director RSUs held by each Independent Director (except Chairman higher) |
Program features and policies:
- Director compensation program unchanged since May 2021; mix of cash and time‑based RSUs; Directors may elect to receive fully vested shares in lieu of cash fees; RSUs vest one year post grant; deferrals permitted via the Director Deferred Compensation Plan .
- Independent Director stock ownership guidelines: greater of $500,000 or ≥5× cash retainer ($450,000 for Directors; $1,000,000 for Independent Chairman) .
- Hedging and pledging company securities are prohibited for Directors; “None of our current Directors has ever sold a share of Anywhere stock” .
Performance Compensation
| Award Type | Performance Metrics | Vesting/Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Performance-based awards (PSUs/options) | None for Independent Directors | Director pay consists of cash and time‑based RSUs; no performance‑linked director equity |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Tenure | Interlock/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fannie Mae | Director; Chairman of the Board | Director: Dec 2008–Dec 2018; Chairman: 2014–2018 | Network overlap: HOUS Independent Chairman Michael J. Williams is former Fannie Mae President & CEO (2009–2012) |
No current public company directorships for Perry are disclosed in the HOUS 2025 proxy beyond his prior Fannie Mae service .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Extensive business leadership in real estate development and investment; deep knowledge of mortgage lending and the real estate market; corporate governance experience (Fannie Mae Chairman) .
- Board skills matrix credits Perry with industry/housing, operating/leadership, accounting/financial, and public company board experience .
Equity Ownership
| Ownership Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Shares of Common Stock (Direct) | 32,976 | As of 12/31/2024 in stock ownership guideline tracking |
| Unvested RSU Awards | 31,435 | As of 12/31/2024 (counts toward guideline; also included in beneficial ownership footnote) |
| Total Beneficial Ownership (SEC) | 64,411 | Includes 31,435 shares subject to vesting under RSUs (within 60 days) |
| % of Shares Outstanding | <1% | Less than one percent as disclosed; 111,795,256 shares outstanding as of 3/10/2025 |
| Director Stock Ownership Guideline | ≥$500,000 or ≥5× cash retainer ($450,000) | Threshold applies to Directors; Chairman threshold $1,000,000 |
| Perry’s Total Ownership Value | $261,509 | Based on trailing 20‑day average price at 12/31/2024 |
| Guideline Compliance Status | Within 5‑year compliance period | Directors have five years from Board join date; Perry joined Jan 2023 (compliance window through 2028) |
| Hedging/Pledging | Prohibited | Company insider trading policy prohibits hedging/pledging |
| Dispositions History (Board-wide) | None sold | “None of our current Directors has ever sold a share of Anywhere stock” |
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness and engagement: Perry serves on the Compensation & Talent Management Committee, which expanded its charter in Feb 2024 to include executive team recruitment, development, performance management and succession planning oversight (excluding CEO succession) . The Board held 16 meetings in 2024, and each Director met the ≥75% attendance threshold; independent executive sessions were held at more than half the Board meetings .
- Independence and conflicts: The Board affirmed Perry’s independence; related party transaction reviews found no Director had a material interest in approved transactions in 2024 (e.g., Angelo Gordon note repurchase; cooperation agreement leading to Joe Lenz appointment) . Directors’ ordinary‑course use of HOUS brokerage/title services is pre‑approved when on market terms .
- Director pay and alignment: Perry’s 2024 compensation mix is balanced between cash ($105,000) and RSUs ($160,004), with standard retainer amounts and no performance‑based director equity; RSUs vest after one year, aligning with long‑term shareholder interests . He is progressing toward ownership guidelines ($261,509 vs ≥$500,000/≥$450,000), with five‑year compliance runway (through 2028) . Hedging/pledging is prohibited; proxy notes no Director has ever sold HOUS stock, supporting alignment .
- Risk indicators and signals: 2024 say‑on‑pay support fell to 53.3%, materially below 2023 (87%); as a member of the Compensation & Talent Management Committee, Perry is part of the group that engaged investors, committed to avoid off‑cycle awards barring extraordinary circumstances, and retained high at‑risk performance designs for executives . The Board’s governance profile continues to strengthen (e.g., proposal to eliminate the remaining supermajority removal requirement; assignment of AI risk oversight to Product & Technology Committee), indicating responsiveness to investor feedback . No related‑party dealings or pledging/hedging red flags are reported for Perry .
Overall, Perry brings domain expertise in housing and mortgage finance and serves on a key human capital/compensation committee during a period of significant industry change. His independence is affirmed, attendance standards met, and ownership alignment is progressing under established guidelines; the primary governance watchpoint is executive pay program investor sentiment (low 2024 say‑on‑pay) where his committee continues to implement responsive actions and avoid off‑cycle awards .