Obie McKenzie
About Obie McKenzie
Obie McKenzie (age 80) is an independent director at MGO Global Inc. (MGOL) serving since January 13, 2023. He brings five decades of institutional finance experience, including senior roles at BlackRock, Merrill Lynch, UBS Asset Management, and Chase Investors, and currently serves as Vice Chairman of Cordiant Capital; he holds a BS from Tennessee State University and an MBA from Harvard Business School .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cordiant Capital | Vice Chairman | Jan 2019–present | Global infrastructure and real assets investment firm |
| BlackRock Inc. | Managing Director | Jan 2000–Dec 2018 | Led relationships with large U.S. pension funds |
| Merrill Lynch | Managing Director | 1990–2006 | Senior distribution and client leadership |
| UBS Asset Management; Chase Investors | Executive Director; Managing Director | 1987–1990 | Asset management leadership |
| McKenzie & Company | Founder & President | 1984–1987 | NASD-registered broker-dealer founder |
| Citibank; Chemical Bank; Freedom National Bank | Commercial banker | Late 1970s–early 1980s | Corporate/commercial banking roles |
| The New York Times | Manager of Banking & Pensions | 1975 | Corporate finance oversight |
| Morgan Stanley | Corporate Finance Associate | 1972 | Early career in corporate finance |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Since | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| SharpLink Gaming, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBET) | Director | Feb 2024 | Current public company board seat |
| National Association of Securities Professionals (NASP) | Founding board member | — | Received Wall Street Hall of Fame Award (2001) |
Board Governance
- Independence: The Board determined McKenzie is independent under Nasdaq rules .
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee member; Compensation Committee chair; not on Nominating Committee .
- Attendance: In FY 2023, each director attended at least 100% of Board and committee meetings, indicating strong engagement .
- Tenure: Director since January 13, 2023 (IPO day) .
- Audit engagement evidence: Listed in Audit Committee report alongside other members .
Fixed Compensation
| Year | Cash Compensation ($) | Equity Compensation ($) | Total ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 52,500 | 16,708 | 88,900 |
- Director pay structure: Compensation Committee sets cash and equity awards for non-employee directors and may use peer analyses; reasonable out-of-pocket expenses are reimbursed .
Performance Compensation
| Grant Type | Grant Date | Shares/Units | Vesting Status/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSUs | Aug 1, 2023 | 2,000 | 666 vested during 2023; remainder subject to plan terms |
- Equity award policies: Timing and terms overseen by Compensation Committee with safeguards around material nonpublic information; awards administered under equity plans .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Overlap with MGOL | Potential Interlock/Conflict Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SharpLink Gaming, Inc. (Nasdaq: SBET) | None disclosed | No MGOL-related party transactions involving McKenzie disclosed; Audit Committee reviews and approves related-party transactions per policy |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Finance and institutional investor relations: Deep experience managing public fund relationships (TRS of Texas, NYCERS, Federal Reserve Employee Benefits System) .
- Governance/awards: AIMSE Outstanding Achievement Award (2010); Black Enterprise “75 Most Powerful Blacks on Wall Street” (2011); Public Fund Marketer of the Year (2013) .
- Education: BS, Tennessee State University; MBA, Harvard Business School .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | % of Outstanding Shares | As Of |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obie McKenzie | 12,019 | 0.41% | Nov 18, 2024 |
- Stock pledging/hedging: Company insider trading policy prohibits pledging, margin accounts, short selling, and hedging by directors and officers .
- Clawback policy: Board adopted a Dodd-Frank-compliant clawback policy covering executive officer incentive compensation tied to financial reporting measures .
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent director with robust institutional finance background; chairs Compensation Committee and serves on Audit Committee; perfect 2023 attendance; contributes to audit oversight and pay governance; subject to strict insider trading restrictions and company clawback framework .
- Alignment: Holds 12,019 shares (~0.41%), plus equity incentives via RSUs; monitor ongoing equity grants for enhanced alignment over time .
- Conflicts/related-party exposure: No material related-party transactions involving McKenzie disclosed; Audit Committee policies require review/approval of any such transactions .
- Watch items: As Compensation Committee chair, outcomes on executive and director pay warrant scrutiny; track future proxy disclosures (e.g., pay mix shifts, performance linkage, say-on-pay results if applicable) to assess pay-for-performance alignment .