Colleen D. Baldwin
About Colleen D. Baldwin
Colleen D. Baldwin (born 1960) is an Independent Trustee of Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund (IHD) and the broader Voya closed‑end funds complex; she has served as a Trustee for IHD since August 2010 and oversees 131 funds in the Voya fund complex. She is President of Glantuam Partners, LLC (January 2009 – present) and is designated an Audit Committee Financial Expert while serving on the Board’s Audit Committee; the Board is composed entirely of Independent Trustees.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glantuam Partners, LLC | President | Jan 2009 – Present | Business consulting leadership |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanley Global Engineering | Director | 2020 – Present | Other board position disclosed |
Board Governance
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Independence and structure
- Board size: 6; all are Independent Trustees. Chair of the Board: Joseph E. Obermeyer (Independent). Independent Trustees retain independent counsel.
- Meeting cadence: Board holds 8 regular meetings per year (2–3 day sessions), plus special meetings as needed. For FY ended Feb 28, 2025, no Trustee attended fewer than 75% of aggregate Board and Committee meetings.
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Committee assignments (FY ended Feb 28, 2025)
Committee Role Chair? Meetings (FY2025) Notes Audit Committee Member No (Chair: Martin J. Gavin) 5 Baldwin designated an “Audit Committee Financial Expert” under SOX. Nominating & Governance Committee Member (committee comprises all six Independent Trustees) No (Chair: Martin J. Gavin) 3 Oversees Board self‑evaluation, committee composition, and trustee compensation studies. Compliance Committee Not a member — 4 Committee members: Pressler (Chair: Boyer), Obermeyer; Baldwin not listed.
Fixed Compensation (FY ended Feb 28, 2025)
| Source | Cash Compensation (USD) |
|---|---|
| IHD (Voya Emerging Markets High Dividend Equity Fund) | $535.65 |
| IAE | $386.49 |
| IDE | $862.14 |
| IGA | $747.38 |
| IGD | $2,274.81 |
| Total Compensation from Voya Fund Complex | $450,000 |
Notes: Appendix C discloses Independent Trustee compensation by fund and in aggregate for the fund complex; Baldwin’s total complex compensation was $450,000 for FY2025. No separate meeting or chair fees are disclosed for Baldwin in the proxy tables.
Performance Compensation
| Component | Disclosure for Independent Trustee Baldwin |
|---|---|
| Target/Actual Bonus | None disclosed/applicable for Independent Trustees in the proxy tables. |
| Stock/Option Awards | None disclosed in the proxy tables. |
| Performance Metrics (e.g., TSR, EBITDA) | None disclosed for Independent Trustees. |
| Deferred/COC/Severance/Clawbacks | Not disclosed for Baldwin; retirement/deferral notes in Appendix C apply to other Trustees (Boyer, Pressler) as specified. |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Sector/Type | Role | Potential Interlock/Conflict Noted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stanley Global Engineering | Engineering | Director (2020 – Present) | No related‑party transactions or linkages to IHD disclosed in the proxy sections cited. |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Audit Committee Financial Expert designation; serves on Audit Committee overseeing financial reporting, auditor interactions, valuation procedures for hard‑to‑price securities.
- Business consulting leadership experience (President, Glantuam Partners, LLC).
- Long‑tenured governance experience at Voya funds (IHD Trustee since Aug 2010; oversees 131 funds).
- Education not disclosed in the proxy sections cited.
Equity Ownership
| Fund (as of Feb 28, 2025) | Dollar Range Beneficially Owned |
|---|---|
| IHD | $0 |
| IAE | $0 |
| IGA | $0 |
| IGD | $0 |
| IDE | $0 |
| Aggregate across Voya Fund Complex | Over $100,000 (includes indirect interests via deferred comp and/or 401(k) plan) |
Governance Assessment
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Strengths
- Independence: Entire Board is independent; Baldwin serves on key oversight committees and is a designated financial expert, supporting robust financial controls and valuation oversight.
- Engagement: Board meets frequently; Audit and Nominating & Governance Committees active; no Trustee fell below the 75% attendance threshold in FY2025, indicating adequate engagement.
- Experience: Significant tenure within the Voya fund family and leadership in a consulting enterprise enhance oversight capability.
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Watch items / potential alignment considerations
- Direct IHD ownership is $0; however, aggregate beneficial ownership across the fund complex is “Over $100,000,” which may reflect deferred comp or diversified fund exposure rather than single‑fund alignment. Investors focused on fund‑specific “skin in the game” may view the lack of direct IHD holdings as a modest alignment gap.
- Workload: Oversight of 131 funds implies a heavy portfolio of responsibilities; while common in fund complexes, investors may monitor whether workload could diffuse focus, especially across specialized strategies.
No red flags identified in the cited proxy sections regarding related‑party transactions, legal proceedings, or hedging/pledging by Ms. Baldwin in relation to IHD; continue to monitor future proxies and 8‑K Item 5.07 disclosures for any changes in Board composition or governance signals.