Veronique Gabai-Pinsky
About Veronique Gabai-Pinsky
Independent director of Lifetime Brands (LCUT), serving since 2020; age 59; former Global President of The Vera Wang Group and senior brand leader at Estée Lauder’s fragrance portfolio (ADF), Lab Series, Beauty Bank and New Brands Development (2006–2015), with earlier marketing leadership at Dragoco/Symrise, LVMH and L’Oréal (1988–2003). Currently Chair of LCUT’s ESG Committee; independence affirmed under Nasdaq rules; biography and roles detailed in LCUT’s proxy statement; education not disclosed in the proxy .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Vera Wang Group | Global President | 2015–2018 | Led global brand and operations |
| Estée Lauder Companies (ADF, Lab Series, Beauty Bank, Idea Bank) | Global President (fragrance portfolio and men’s skincare); new brands development | 2006–2015 | Brand portfolio management, innovation |
| Donna Karan & Michael Kors (ADF division) | General Manager | 2003–2006 | Category/brand leadership |
| Dragoco/Symrise; LVMH; L’Oréal | Executive marketing/management roles | 1988–2003 | Global marketing, product development |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Since | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inter Parfums, Inc. (Nasdaq: IPAR) | Director | 2017 | Public company board experience in beauty/fragrance |
| Parfums de Marly | Director | 2023 | Private company board |
| Veronique Gabai (eponymous brand) | Founder/Leader | Late 2019 | Luxury perfumes brand |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: ESG Committee Chair; not listed on Audit or Compensation Committees .
- ESG Committee responsibilities: oversees sustainability, ESG reporting, human capital; held two meetings in 2024 .
- Independence: Board determined Gabai-Pinsky is independent under Nasdaq standards .
- Attendance: Board met six times in 2024; each director attended ≥75% of Board and committee meetings for periods served; all attended the 2024 Annual Meeting virtually .
- Leadership and oversight: Independent directors hold executive sessions; Lead Independent Director Michael J. Regan coordinates agendas and session outcomes with the CEO .
- Stock ownership guidelines: Directors must hold shares equal to ≥3x annual cash retainer within five years; LCUT reports directors are on track or satisfied .
- Anti-hedging and clawback: Insider Trading Policy prohibits hedging by directors; clawback policy adopted consistent with SEC/Nasdaq rules (effective for incentive pay on/after Oct 2, 2023) .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount/Terms | 2024 Gabai-Pinsky Actual |
|---|---|---|
| Board annual cash retainer | $60,000 [2025 schedule] | Included in cash fees |
| Committee chair retainer | ESG Chair: $10,000; Audit/Comp Chair: $20,000 | Included in cash fees |
| Committee member retainer | $2,000 annually | Included in cash fees |
| Meeting fees | $2,000 per Board meeting; $500 per committee meeting | Included in cash fees |
| Restricted stock annual grant (director) | $105,000 grant-date fair value [2025 schedule] | $105,000 stock awards in 2024 |
| 2024 total director comp (Gabai-Pinsky) | — | $83,000 cash; $105,000 stock; total $188,000 |
Performance Compensation
Directors do not receive performance-based equity or cash bonuses; LCUT grants time-based restricted stock to non-employee directors.
| Equity Grant (2024 cohort) | Grant Date | Shares | Fair Value | Vesting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director restricted stock (Gabai-Pinsky) | June 20, 2024 | 11,653 | Included in $105,000 annual stock awards | Fully vests June 20, 2025 |
LCUT confirms director equity is time-based restricted stock, not PSUs/options for directors .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
- Public boards: Inter Parfums (IPAR) since 2017; provides adjacent-industry expertise; no LCUT-related party transactions disclosed .
- Private boards: Parfums de Marly since 2023 .
- Internal interlocks: ESG committee includes Gabai-Pinsky (Chair), Rachael Jarosh, Jeffrey Siegel (non-independent Chair), and CEO Robert Kay; may centralize ESG oversight with both management and independent perspectives .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Brand building, product development, creative and innovation, global business management, organizational design, talent management, brand portfolio management across beauty and ready-to-wear industries; highlighted by LCUT as key qualifications supporting Board service and ESG oversight .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | % Outstanding | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veronique Gabai-Pinsky | 55,377 | <1% | 51,877 direct; 3,500 held by spouse |
| Restricted shares held (12/31/2024) | 11,653 | — | Director grant vests 6/20/2025 |
- Ownership guidelines compliance: LCUT states all directors have satisfied or are on track to satisfy 3x cash retainer within five years .
- Hedging/pledging: Hedging prohibited for directors under Insider Trading Policy; no pledging statement disclosed, and no hedging/pledging violations reported .
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent status; Chair of ESG Committee with deep brand and sustainability-relevant experience; acceptable attendance; alignment via equity grants and stock ownership guidelines; anti-hedging and clawback frameworks in place .
- Compensation alignment: Director pay mix is standard (cash retainer + time-based restricted stock), avoiding performance-linked director pay that could bias oversight; 2024 equity grant with annual vesting supports retention without short-term risk-taking .
- Conflicts/related party exposure: No related-party transactions disclosed for Gabai-Pinsky; family employment disclosures pertain to the Siegel family, not her; Section 16 delinquency disclosures did not list her .
- Signals for investor confidence: LCUT’s 2024 say-on-pay approval ~90% suggests investor support for compensation governance; while not director-specific, it indicates broader alignment of pay practices .
RED FLAGS: None disclosed for Gabai-Pinsky (no attendance shortfalls, no related-party transactions, no hedging/pledging issues) . Broader board considerations include a significant shareholder (Centre Partners) with two representatives on the Board, but Gabai-Pinsky is independent and not associated with Centre Partners .