Neilwantie Mahabir
JAKKS PACIFICAbout Neilwantie Mahabir
Independent Class I Director of JAKKS Pacific since December 6, 2024; age 60. She is CEO of LaRose Industries LLC (brands: RoseArt and Cra‑Z‑Art). Prior roles include COO of Barton’s Confectionary (2006–2008) and executive leadership at RoseArt Industries from 1988–2005 (EVP from 2000). Education: New Amsterdam Multilateral School (Guyana) and BBA from the American Business Institute. Term expires at the 2027 annual meeting; the Board has determined she is independent.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| RoseArt Industries, Corp. | Customer Service Manager → Head of Sales & Marketing → Executive Vice President | 1988–2005 (EVP 2000–2005) | Commercial leadership across toy and stationery portfolio |
| Barton’s Confectionary | Chief Operating Officer | 2006–2008 | Operations leadership for confectionery manufacturer |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| LaRose Industries LLC (RoseArt, Cra‑Z‑Art) | Chief Executive Officer | 2008–Present | Manufactures toy, activity, art and stationery products |
Board Governance
- Board class/term: Class I director; term expires at 2027 annual meeting.
- Independence: Board determined Ms. Mahabir is an independent director under Nasdaq rules.
- Committee assignments: No committee membership disclosed for Ms. Mahabir in the 2025 proxy (Audit: Shoghi (Chair), Winkler, Levine; Compensation: Shoghi (Chair), Winkler; Nominating: Winkler (Chair), Cascade, MacPherson; Cybersecurity: Levine, MacPherson).
- Attendance and engagement: In 2024, the Board, Audit, Compensation, Nominating, and Cybersecurity committees met or acted at least 7, 4, 3, 3 and 3 times, respectively; all directors attended at least 75% of meetings. All directors then serving attended the December 6, 2024 annual meeting.
- Board structure/oversight: Classified board; majority independent; independent‑only executive sessions occur at least twice per year; explicit risk oversight allocation (Audit, Compensation, Nominating, Cybersecurity).
Fixed Compensation
- JAKKS non‑employee director pay framework (set August 2019, still in effect):
- Annual cash retainer: $100,000
- Committee membership fee: $5,000
- Audit Chair additional: $15,000
- Other Committee Chair additional: $10,000
| Director Compensation (Cash) | 2024 Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual retainer (non‑employee) | $100,000 (policy) |
| Committee member fee (per committee) | $5,000 (policy) |
| Audit Chair premium | $15,000 (policy) |
| Other Chair premium | $10,000 (policy) |
| Ms. Mahabir actual reported total (2024) | $0 (elected at 2024 meeting; no reported 2024 fees) |
Notes: Director minimum shareholding guideline requires holdings equal to 2x the average annual cash stipend over prior two years (illustrative minimum $218,958 as of the example in policy).
Performance Compensation
- Non‑employee director compensation is cash‑based; no performance‑conditioned or equity awards for directors were disclosed for 2024.
- No per‑meeting fees disclosed; compensation determined by role and chair responsibilities.
| Component | Performance Metric(s) | Grant/Value | Vesting/Terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Director cash retainer | None | $100,000 annually | Paid quarterly |
| Committee membership | None | $5,000 annually | By committee |
| Chair premiums | None | $10,000 (non‑Audit), $15,000 (Audit) | Annual designation |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Committees | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other public company boards | None disclosed | — | No other public board roles disclosed in JAKKS proxies. |
| LaRose Industries LLC | CEO | — | LaRose is controlled by Lawrence I. Rosen, who owns 17.1% of JAKKS common stock (1,900,837 shares as of April 23, 2025). Company states no other business relationship with Mr. Rosen or LaRose. |
Potential interlock/conflict signal: Ms. Mahabir leads LaRose (toy/art products) while Mr. Rosen, who controls LaRose, is a significant JAKKS shareholder; the proxy states there are no other business relationships between JAKKS and Mr. Rosen/LaRose.
Expertise & Qualifications
- Industry/operator: 35+ years across toys, arts/stationery; EVP RoseArt, COO Barton’s, CEO LaRose.
- Commercial/operations: Sales/marketing leadership and operations management experience.
- Education: BBA (American Business Institute).
Equity Ownership
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership (as of April 23, 2025) | None reported for Ms. Mahabir (no amount/percent listed). |
| Ownership as % of outstanding | Not reported; less than 1% if any. |
| Shares pledged/hedged | No pledging/hedging disclosure for directors; policy includes ownership guidelines. |
| Ownership guidelines (directors) | Must hold shares equal to 2x average annual cash stipend over prior two years (illustrative minimum $218,958). |
| Compliance status (Ms. Mahabir) | Not specified in proxies. |
Governance Assessment
-
Positives
- Independent director with deep category expertise in toys/art; adds relevant operator/market experience.
- Board majority independence; explicit risk oversight framework with dedicated Cybersecurity Oversight Committee.
- Director ownership guideline in place; SEC‑compliant clawback policy adopted December 1, 2023.
- 2024 meeting attendance threshold achieved by all directors; active committee cadence.
-
Watch items / Red flags
- Potential perceived conflict: CEO of LaRose while LaRose’s controller (Lawrence I. Rosen) owns 17.1% of JAKKS; company discloses no other business relationships with Rosen/LaRose. Ongoing monitoring advisable for related‑party or competitive interactions.
- Alignment: No beneficial ownership reported as of April 23, 2025; assess progress toward director ownership guideline over time.
- Board is classified (staggered terms), which can extend director tenures between elections; investors may weigh this in accountability analyses.
-
Current committee impact
- No committee roles disclosed for Ms. Mahabir in the 2025 proxy; future committee placement will influence her governance leverage (e.g., Audit/Comp/Nominating/Cyber).
Summary: Ms. Mahabir brings substantial toy industry operating expertise and is independent, but her leadership of LaRose alongside Rosen’s 17.1% stake in JAKKS is a notable governance watch item despite the proxy’s statement of no other relationships. Ownership alignment appears limited at present (no reported holdings); monitoring for share accumulation and committee assignments will be key to evaluating board effectiveness and investor alignment.