Shaikh Ali Sultan Al Nuaimi
About Shaikh Ali Sultan Al Nuaimi
Shaikh Ali Sultan Al Nuaimi is 34 and was appointed as an independent director of Professional Diversity Network, Inc. effective November 5, 2025; the Board affirmatively determined he meets Nasdaq independence standards . He holds a B.S. in Finance from Portland State University and an MBA from the Canadian University of Dubai, and currently serves as managing director of the Al Nuaimi Group in the UAE; prior roles include Ajman Bank and the Ajman Department of Finance . His appointment is tied to IPDN’s planned strategic expansion into the Middle East and digital asset initiatives .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees / Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ajman Department of Finance | Controller | Prior to 2015 (before current MD role) | Public sector finance experience |
| Ajman Bank | Senior Manager, Government Relations & Business Development | Prior to 2015 (before current MD role) | Government liaison, business development |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees / Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al Nuaimi Group (UAE) | Managing Director (principal executive) | Since 2015 | Oversees strategic direction and international expansion |
| BOF Acquisition Tech Corporation (Cayman) | Director | Not disclosed | Board member; committee roles not disclosed |
Board Governance
- Independence: Board determined Shaikh Ali meets Nasdaq independence criteria upon appointment (Item 5.02) .
- Committee assignments: None disclosed for Shaikh Ali at appointment; simultaneous committee changes named other directors (Audit: Hao Zhang; Compensation: Song Tai chair, Haixia Lu member) .
- Attendance: No director meeting attendance data yet for Shaikh Ali given appointment in November 2025 .
- Conflicts screening: Company disclosed no related-party transactions involving Shaikh Ali or his immediate family requiring Item 404(a) reporting since the beginning of the last fiscal year .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount / Terms | Effective Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash retainer | $3,000 per month | Nov 5, 2025 | Per Independent Director Service Agreement; payable while serving |
| Expense reimbursement | Reasonable documented expenses | Nov 5, 2025 | Travel and meeting-related reimbursement |
| Indemnification & D&O insurance | Standard form indemnification; included under D&O | Nov 2025 | Agreement provides advancement and indemnity to fullest extent of law |
Context – company’s prior director compensation program:
- 2024/2025 proxy described non‑employee director fees: $5,000 annual retainer, $25,000 RSUs vesting after one year, plus committee retainers ($1,000 members/$4,000 chair for Audit; $500/$1,000 for Compensation; $500/$1,000 for Nominating) .
- The 8‑K states Shaikh Ali’s compensation follows the non‑employee program but specifies a $3,000 monthly retainer and expense reimbursement for him; RSUs are not mentioned in the 8‑K .
Performance Compensation
| Equity Award Type | Grant Date | Shares / Value | Vesting | Performance Metrics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSUs (annual director grant) | Not disclosed for Shaikh Ali | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Reference: program historically included $25,000 RSUs for non‑employee directors | 2024 | $25,000 | Vest after one year | No explicit performance metrics disclosed in proxy |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Entity | Relationship to IPDN | Potential Interlock / Conflict |
|---|---|---|
| Al Nuaimi Group (family conglomerate; UAE) | External, diversified sectors | Could become a related party if IPDN enters transactions with group entities; currently none disclosed under Item 404(a) |
| BOF Acquisition Tech Corporation (Cayman) | External board seat | No disclosed overlap with IPDN operations; details limited |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Education: B.S. in Finance (Portland State University) and MBA (Canadian University of Dubai) .
- Leadership: Managing Director of Al Nuaimi Group since 2015, overseeing strategy, investments, and international expansion .
- Sector experience: Government finance and banking (Ajman Department of Finance; Ajman Bank) .
- Strategic fit: Appointment aligned with IPDN’s Middle East expansion and initiatives in Web3, RWA tokenization, and digital finance .
Equity Ownership
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership (shares) | Not disclosed | No holdings or grants reported at appointment |
| Ownership % of outstanding | Not disclosed | Not available for Shaikh Ali in 2025 proxy (pre‑appointment) |
| Vested vs. unvested | Not disclosed | No director equity award disclosed for Shaikh Ali |
| Pledged shares | None disclosed | No pledging disclosed |
| Ownership guidelines | Not disclosed | Director ownership guidelines not specified in proxy sections referenced |
Governance Assessment
-
Positives:
- Formal independence determination under Nasdaq standards; no Item 404 related‑party transactions with Shaikh Ali reported at appointment .
- Relevant regional network and leadership experience supportive of IPDN’s Middle East strategy and digital asset initiatives .
-
Risks and RED FLAGS:
- Cash‑heavy compensation (explicit $3,000 monthly retainer) with no disclosed equity grant at appointment may weaken ownership alignment versus prior board practice that included $25,000 RSUs for non‑employee directors .
- External leadership in a large family conglomerate (Al Nuaimi Group) introduces potential for future related‑party exposure if IPDN transacts in the Gulf; company states none currently (monitor future filings) .
- Strategic focus areas (Web3/RWA/digital assets) heighten regulatory and execution risk; board oversight of risk and compliance will be critical .
-
Monitoring signals for investors:
- Committee assignments: Track whether Shaikh Ali is placed on Audit, Compensation, or Nominating committees and any chair roles; none disclosed at appointment .
- Equity awards: Watch for RSU or PSU grants in future proxies to assess pay‑for‑performance alignment for independent directors .
- Related‑party disclosures: Continue to review Item 404 sections for any UAE or Al Nuaimi Group transaction disclosures involving IPDN .
- Shareholder votes: His election will be first presented at the next annual meeting; monitor vote support and any shareholder feedback on governance and compensation .