Trevor Bowen
Kennedy-Wilson HoldingsAbout Trevor Bowen
Independent director of Kennedy-Wilson Holdings, Inc. since 2018; age 76 (as of April 18, 2025). Former KPMG Ireland partner leading the banking practice and co-owner/director of Principle Management Limited; recognized by KW’s Board as an audit committee financial expert. Currently serves on three KW board committees (Audit, Capital Markets, ESG) and is designated independent under NYSE rules. Core credentials span public accounting, European financial services, and board oversight of audit and risk in listed companies .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| KPMG Ireland | Partner; led banking practice | ~11 years (prior to 1996) | Public accounting leadership in financial institutions |
| Principle Management Limited | Director and part owner | 1996–2013 | Entertainment management; private company governance |
| Ulster Bank | Director | 2004–2013 | Risk Committee member |
| Readymix plc | Director | 2009–2011 | Board service at building materials company |
External Roles
| Company | Listing | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceiba Investments Ltd. | LSE: CBA | Director | 2018–present | Audit Committee Chair |
| Round Hill Music Royalty Fund Ltd. | LSE: RHM.L | Chairman (former) | Oct 2020–Oct 2022 | Led board through LSE full listing; resigned Oct 2022 |
Board Governance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Independence | Board determined Trevor Bowen is independent under NYSE 303A.02 |
| KW Committees | Audit; Capital Markets; ESG (member) |
| “Financial Expert” | Board designated audit committee financial expert |
| Committee activity (2024) | Audit: 6 meetings; Capital Markets: 3; ESG: 3 |
| Board attendance | 2024 Board held 8 meetings; all directors met ≥75% attendance except Mr. Boehly (Bowen not listed as exception) |
| Executive sessions | Regular executive sessions led by Lead Independent Director David A. Minella |
Fixed Compensation
| Component (Directors) | 2023 | 2024 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $150,000 | $150,000 | No meeting fees disclosed |
| Chair retainers | Audit: $20,000; Comp/Nominating/Cap Mkts/ESG: $10,000 each | Audit: $20,000; others: $10,000 | Bowen is not a chair at KW |
| Annual equity award (RSUs) | 11,000 RSUs, 3-yr vest | 17,500 RSUs, 3-yr vest | Time-based; accelerated on CoC/death/disability |
Individual 2024 compensation (Trevor Bowen):
- Cash fees: $150,000; Stock award (grant-date fair value): $177,275; Total: $327,275 .
- RSUs outstanding at 12/31/2024: 27,333 units (cumulative) .
Performance Compensation
No performance-based equity, options, or cash incentive programs are disclosed for non-employee directors. Director RSUs are time-vested and not tied to financial/TSR metrics .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current public boards | Ceiba Investments Ltd. (LSE: CBA), Audit Committee Chair |
| Prior public boards | Round Hill Music Royalty Fund Ltd. (LSE: RHM.L), Chairman (2020–2022); Readymix plc, Director (2009–2011) |
| Banking board experience | Ulster Bank, Director and Risk Committee member (2004–2013) |
| Interlocks/conflicts at KW | None disclosed for Bowen; independence affirmed by Board . Related-party transactions disclosed involve Eldridge/Fairfax/Eisner, not Bowen . |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Public accounting (KPMG Ireland banking practice leadership) and audit/risk oversight; designated audit committee financial expert at KW .
- Capital markets and ESG governance via committee roles .
- Education: B.B.S. in Business, Trinity College Dublin .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | % of Outstanding | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trevor Bowen | 110,238 | <1% | Separate from 27,333 RSUs outstanding at 12/31/2024 |
Alignment policies and status:
- Ownership guideline: Non-employee directors must hold equity equal to 3x annual cash retainer; as of 12/31/2024, directors (except recent appointees) were in compliance (Bowen not listed as exception) .
- Anti-hedging and anti-pledging policies apply to directors; no pledges by executives as of 12/31/2024; grandfathered exception applies to another director, not Bowen .
Governance Assessment
Key findings for investors:
- Strengths: Independent director with deep audit expertise; serves on Audit, Capital Markets, and ESG committees; recognized “audit committee financial expert”; consistent attendance; equity-based director pay and stock ownership/holding requirements support alignment .
- Pay structure: Mix skews to fixed retainer plus time-based RSUs; RSU grant size rose from 11,000 (2023) to 17,500 (2024), increasing equity alignment but without performance linkage—typical for directors .
- Conflicts/related parties: No Bowen-specific related-party transactions disclosed; Audit Committee (of which Bowen is a member) reviews/approves related-person transactions, mitigating risk around other relationships (Eldridge/Fairfax/Eisner LLP) .
- Shareholder sentiment: Say-on-Pay support at 89% in 2024 and continued annual votes indicate stable governance support and responsiveness by the Compensation Committee .
RED FLAGS: None disclosed specific to Bowen. No low attendance flags; no pledging/hedging by Bowen; no related-party transactions identified for Bowen .
Additional context:
- 2024 KW Board activity: 8 Board meetings; robust committee cadence (Audit 6; Capital Markets 3; ESG 3). Lead Independent Director structure in place; regular executive sessions .
- Clawback and updated governance policies (anti-hedging/pledging, ownership, clawback) enhance oversight; while targeted at executives, they reinforce the culture in which the Board operates .