Rob Benson
About Rob Benson
Rob Benson (born 1978) serves as Chief Compliance Officer of DWS Municipal Income Trust (KTF) and was appointed to the role on May 20, 2025; he is a Director at DWS and the Senior Team Lead for Anti-Financial Crime & Compliance (AFC & Compliance US) . Prior to his current role, Benson held progressively senior legal positions at DWS Legal from 2017–2025, including Associate General Counsel, Vice President/Senior Counsel, and Assistant Vice President/Counsel . KTF officers are compensated by DWS or its affiliates and receive no direct compensation from the Fund, limiting direct pay-for-performance linkage to fund TSR or operational metrics; Fund governance reports that Section 16(a) ownership filings were timely and that Board/execs collectively own <1% of the Fund’s shares as of the respective record dates .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| DWS Legal | Associate General Counsel | 2023–2025 | Senior legal leadership within DWS funds complex |
| DWS Legal | Vice President and Senior Counsel | 2021–2023 | Counsel for regulatory/compliance matters |
| DWS Legal | Assistant Vice President and Counsel | 2017–2021 | Legal support across DWS fund entities |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| DWS (Americas) | Director | Since 2024 | Governance leadership in DWS Americas |
| DBX Advisors LLC | Vice President | Since 2025 | Oversight within DWS ETF advisory affiliate |
| The European Equity Fund, Inc. | Chief Compliance Officer | Since 2025 | CCO responsibilities across DWS closed‑end funds |
| The New Germany Fund, Inc. | Chief Compliance Officer | Since 2025 | CCO responsibilities across DWS closed‑end funds |
| The Central and Eastern Europe Fund, Inc. | Chief Compliance Officer | Since 2025 | CCO responsibilities across DWS closed‑end funds |
Fixed Compensation
| Component | 2025 | 2024 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Salary ($) | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Fund officers receive no direct compensation from KTF; they are compensated by DWS or affiliates |
| Target Bonus % | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | No officer cash comp disclosed at the Fund level |
| Actual Bonus ($) | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | No officer cash comp disclosed at the Fund level |
| Perquisites ($) | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | No officer perquisite disclosure for Fund officers |
Performance Compensation
| Incentive Type | Metric(s) | Weighting | Target | Actual | Payout | Vesting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSUs/PSUs | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Options | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
Fund officers are employees of DWS or affiliates; KTF does not disclose individual officer equity awards, options, or performance frameworks. Compensation plans, if any, are governed at the DWS corporate level, not in the Fund’s proxy .
Equity Ownership & Alignment
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Total beneficial ownership (common) | Not individually disclosed for officers; Board Members and executive officers collectively own <1% of outstanding shares as of Aug 1, 2025 |
| Preferred shares owned | Independent Board Members and executive officers did not own any Preferred Shares as of Aug 1, 2025 |
| Ownership guidelines | Board Governance expectation: within 3 years of becoming a Board Member, invest at least $315,000 across DWS funds (Board policy; not applicable to officers) |
| Pledging/hedging | No pledging/hedging disclosures specific to officers in KTF proxy |
| Vested vs unvested | Not disclosed for officers at Fund level |
Employment Terms
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| Start date (KTF CCO) | May 20, 2025 |
| Contract term/expiration | Not disclosed at Fund level (officer roles elected annually by Board across DWS funds) |
| Severance multiple | Not disclosed |
| Change‑of‑control provisions | Not disclosed (Fund termination approved; liquidating distribution no later than Nov 30, 2026) |
| Trigger (single/double) | Not disclosed |
| Accelerated vesting | Not disclosed |
| Clawbacks | Not disclosed |
| Non‑compete / non‑solicit | Not disclosed |
| Address on file | 5201 Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, FL 32256 (Rob Benson) |
Performance & Track Record
- Role scope: Senior Team Lead AFC & Compliance US and CCO across multiple DWS funds, with prior senior legal roles at DWS; governance filings indicate timely Section 16(a) compliance for the Fund as of FY2024 .
- Fund lifecycle: KTF Board approved termination of the Fund with a liquidating distribution no later than Nov 30, 2026, implying finite duration of Fund‑specific executive roles .
Risk Indicators & Governance Notes
- Section 16(a) compliance filings were timely for the fiscal year ended Nov 30, 2024, indicating adherence to reporting obligations .
- As of Aug 1, 2025, Board Members and executive officers collectively own <1% of outstanding shares and no Preferred Shares, suggesting limited direct equity alignment at the Fund level .
- Audit/Nominating/Operations Committees comprised solely of Independent Board Members; Audit Committee active and engaged, with meetings and oversight detailed (contextual governance strength) .
Investment Implications
- Pay‑for‑performance linkage: Officer compensation is at the DWS corporate level and not tied to Fund TSR in KTF disclosures, limiting direct alignment signals for Benson; no bonus/option/RSU disclosures at the Fund level .
- Insider selling pressure: No individual officer ownership disclosed; group ownership <1% and no Preferred holdings mitigate selling pressure signals; no pledging disclosures identified .
- Retention/continuity: Benson’s career progression within DWS Legal/Compliance and parallel CCO roles across multiple DWS funds indicate institutional continuity; Fund termination by Nov 30, 2026 caps Fund‑specific tenure but not broader DWS roles .
- Trading signals: Absence of officer‑level equity awards, vesting schedules, or Form 4 activity in the proxy reduces near‑term trading catalysts linked to executive incentives; governance processes and timely filings support operational integrity rather than price catalysts .