Angel Martinez
KORN FERRYAbout Angel Martinez
Angel R. Martinez, age 70, has served as an independent director of Korn Ferry since 2017 and is a member of the Audit Committee. He is the former Executive Chairman, CEO, and President of Deckers Brands, and brings 27+ years of public company board experience; he also serves on the board of Genesco Inc.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deckers Brands | Executive Chairman | 2008–2016 | Led governance and strategic oversight as board chair |
| Deckers Brands | Non-Executive Chairman | 2016–2017 | Oversight continuity post-executive role |
| Deckers Brands | Chief Executive Officer and President | Apr 2005–Jun 2016 | Senior leadership of global footwear/apparel company |
| Keen LLC | President, CEO and Vice Chairman | Apr 2003–Mar 2005 | Operating leadership in outdoor footwear |
| The Rockport Company | Chief Executive Officer and President | 1995–1999 | Brand and P&L leadership in footwear |
| Reebok International Ltd. | EVP & Chief Marketing Officer; President, Fitness Division; VP Global Biz Dev; VP Marketing | 1983–1995 (various) | Product/marketing and global expansion leadership |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genesco Inc. | Director | Public company | Current public board; consumer footwear/apparel exposure |
| Oofos, Inc. | Director/Advisor (not specified) | Private company | Listed as “Other Companies” in biography |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee member (not chair). Audit held 7 meetings in FY2025; the Board held 5 meetings. All incumbent directors attended ≥75% of Board and relevant committee meetings in FY2025.
- Independence: The Board determined Martinez is “independent” under NYSE standards; committees are 100% independent. Regular executive sessions of independent directors are held.
- Board structure: Independent non-executive Chair (Jerry P. Leamon). Majority voting in uncontested director elections; annual elections; no poison pill; stockholders can call special meetings (25% threshold).
- Engagement: Ongoing shareholder engagement; 2024 say-on-pay support ~97%.
Fixed Compensation
| Component (FY2025) | Amount (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual director cash retainer | $95,000 | Standard non-employee director fee |
| Committee fee (Audit Committee member) | $10,000 | Audit member fee; increases to $12,000 beginning FY2026 |
| Equity award (RSUs – annual grant) | $184,748 | Granted at the annual meeting; vests before next annual meeting; most directors elected deferral; Martinez participated in annual RSU program |
| Dividends on unvested RSUs | $8,353 | “All Other Compensation” reflects dividends on unvested RSUs |
| Total FY2025 director compensation | $298,101 | Cash + equity + dividends |
- Program design: FY2025 non-employee director equity award targeted at ~$185,000 in RSUs (increased to $200,000 in FY2026). Directors may elect to receive annual cash retainer/committee fees in RSUs; several directors elected RSUs/deferral in FY2025.
Performance Compensation
- Non-employee directors do not receive performance-based equity; annual director equity is time-based RSUs vesting the day before the next annual meeting (with optional deferral). No director KPIs or TSR metrics apply to Martinez’s board compensation.
| Equity Element | Units/Value | Vesting | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual RSU grant (FY2025) | $184,748 | Vests day before 2025→2026 annual meeting | RSUs may be deferred; most directors deferred settlement in FY2025 |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Interlock/Conflict Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Genesco Inc. | Director | No related-party transactions disclosed between KFY and Genesco; KFY policy prohibits hedging/pledging and sets related-person transaction controls via Audit Committee. |
| Oofos, Inc. | Director/Advisor (not specified) | No KFY-related transactions disclosed. |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Extensive senior leadership: Executive Chairman, CEO, President at Deckers; CEO roles at Rockport and Keen.
- Product and marketing depth: Nearly 45 years across footwear and apparel; EVP/CMO at Reebok; significant brand-building expertise.
- Corporate governance: 27+ years public board experience; prior Tupperware board service; current Genesco director.
Equity Ownership
| Item | Amount | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Total beneficial ownership | 29,280 shares | Includes deferred/RSU positions noted below; <1% of shares outstanding |
| Percent of class | <1% | Company reports “*%” (less than 1% of 52,327,612 shares) |
| Fully vested deferred stock units | 3,890 units | Deferred until retirement from the Board |
| RSUs vesting Sept 17, 2025 | 2,550 units | Annual grant vests before next annual meeting; deferral election available |
| Ownership policy | 3x annual cash retainer | Directors must hold 3x annual retainer; retain 75% of net shares until compliant; hedging/pledging prohibited |
Governance Assessment
-
Board effectiveness: Martinez strengthens audit and financial oversight through Audit Committee service; Board has robust independence and executive sessions—positive for investor confidence.
-
Alignment and pay mix: Director compensation is balanced (cash + time-based RSUs), with optional deferral enhancing long-term alignment; no performance-linked director pay reduces risk of short-termism.
-
Independence and conflicts: Independent under NYSE standards; no related-party transactions disclosed involving Martinez; company-wide prohibitions on hedging/pledging mitigate alignment risks.
-
Attendance/engagement: All incumbent directors met ≥75% attendance in FY2025; Audit Committee met 7 times—signals active oversight, though individual attendance is not separately disclosed.
-
Shareholder signals: Say-on-pay support ~97% in 2024 indicates positive investor sentiment toward governance and compensation practices.
-
RED FLAGS
- None disclosed for Martinez: No related-party transactions, no hedging/pledging, no tax gross-ups, and no director overboarding (Martinez has one other public company board).