Quentin F. Dolan
Madison Square Garden SportsAbout Quentin F. Dolan
Quentin F. Dolan (age 31) is a Class B director of Madison Square Garden Sports Corp. (MSGS) since December 8, 2021; he currently serves as Senior Vice President, Player Performance & Science Leader at MSGS (since July 2024) and is a graduate of New York University. He is the son of James L. Dolan (MSGS Executive Chairman & CEO), and is not classified as an independent director under MSGS’s independence determinations.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| MSGS | Senior Vice President, Player Performance & Science Leader | Jul 2024–present | Focus on player performance/science leadership |
| MSGS | Vice President, Strategic Advisor to the Executive Chairman | Jan 2024–Jun 2024 | Strategic advisory to Executive Chairman |
| MSGS | Strategic Advisor to the Executive Chairman | Jul 2023–Dec 2023 | Strategic advisory support |
| MSGS | Investment Director | May 2022–Jul 2023 | Investment/strategic projects |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison Square Garden Entertainment Corp. (MSGE) | Director | Apr 2023–present | No committee roles disclosed |
| Sphere Entertainment Co. (SPHR) | Director | Apr 2020–present | No committee roles disclosed |
| MSG Networks | Director | 2015–Jun 2020 | Former board service prior to sale/spin changes |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: None; Quentin does not serve on the Audit or Compensation Committees.
- Independence: Not independent; MSGS is a “controlled company” and its board includes both independent and non-independent directors. Independents include Cohen, Mills, Peltz, Schwartz, Seidenberg, Tese and Vinciquerra.
- Attendance: The board met six times in FY2025; each director attended at least 75% of board and committee meetings on which they served.
- Executive sessions and oversight: Independent committees (Audit and Compensation) are 100% independent; an Independent Committee reviews related party transactions (including with MSG Entertainment, Sphere Entertainment, AMC Networks).
Fixed Compensation
| Component (FY2025) | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Director cash retainer | $0 | Employee-directors receive no board compensation. |
| Committee/Chair fees | $0 | No committee service. |
| Director equity retainer | $0 | Employee-directors do not receive director retainers. |
| Employee compensation (non-executive role) | $1,753,441 | FY2025 compensation earned as an employee of an MSGS subsidiary. |
Performance Compensation
| Program/Metric | Structure | FY2025 Result/Disclosure |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Incentive Plan (MPIP) – AOI (financial) | Initial pool funded solely by AOI vs budget; 0–200% target range. | AOI component calculated at 0.0% due to investments (roster/luxury tax, coaching changes, media rights amendments). |
| MPIP Strategic Modifier | Adjusts pool 0–200% based on 19 measurable strategic metrics (revenue growth, renewals, sponsorships, efficiency, tech). | Final payout for FY2025 set to 95.0% of target. |
| Long-term PSUs (Exec program) | 50% of LTI; metrics = Revenues (50%) & AOI (50%) measured in year 3; payout 0–110% (threshold 90%). | Targets not disclosed (competitive); 2023 PSU cycle paid at 106.7% of target on FY2025 results (Revenues 103.4%, AOI 110.0%). |
Note: PSU/bonus constructs are disclosed for NEOs; Quentin is not an NEO, but employee incentive structures follow the disclosed program architecture at the company level.
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Entity | Nature of Interlock / Governance Context |
|---|---|
| Controlled company and Class B voting | Dolan Family Group holds all Class B shares (10 votes/share), electing 11/15 directors and approving auditor and say-on-pay regardless of other votes. |
| Cross-board ties | Multiple MSGS directors also serve on MSG Entertainment (MSGE), Sphere Entertainment (SPHR), and AMC Networks; significant overlap disclosed in FY2025 10-K. |
| Independent Committee policy | Independent Committee must review and approve related party transactions (Item 404) and all MSGS–MSGE–SPHR–AMCX transactions above $1 million; quarterly updates required. |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Player performance/science leadership and internal strategy roles (Investment Director, Strategic Advisor; current SVP role).
- Public company board experience at MSGE and SPHR; prior MSG Networks board.
- Education: New York University.
Equity Ownership
| Security/Position | Quantity | Source/Date |
|---|---|---|
| Common stock (direct) after 9/15/2025 vesting | 369 shares | Form 4 showing 50 shares acquired (M-exempt) and 34 shares withheld for taxes (F) on 9/15/2025; post-transaction 369. |
| Director RSUs (under Director Stock Plan) | 884 units (excluded from beneficial ownership table count) | RSUs held until 90 days post-separation per plan; quantity disclosed in stock ownership notes. |
| Employee RSUs (unvested) | 128 units (excluded from table count) | Granted under Employee Stock Plan; unvested units excluded from ownership count. |
| Employee PSUs (target, unvested) | 232 units (excluded from table count) | Target PSUs under Employee Stock Plan; unvested target excludes from ownership count. |
Insider trading policy prohibits hedging/pledging; directors’ RSUs are held until post-service settlement, supporting alignment.
Related Party Exposure and Conflicts
- Family relationship: Quentin is the son of James L. Dolan (Executive Chairman & CEO) and a member of the extended Dolan family that controls Class B voting power; he is not independent.
- Employment relationship: Employed by an MSGS subsidiary since May 2022; FY2025 employee compensation was $1,753,441 (not director fees).
- Intercompany arrangements: Aircraft and helicopter arrangements allocate costs among MSGS, MSGE, and SPHR; Independent Committee oversees related party arrangements.
- Media/rights transactions: Significant intercompany agreements (e.g., media rights with MSG Networks/SPHR) underscore the need for robust Independent Committee oversight.
Director Compensation (Program Reference)
| Element | FY2025 Amount/Structure |
|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $75,000 (non-employee directors) |
| Audit/Comp committee member fee | $15,000 (per committee) |
| Committee chair fee | $25,000 |
| Annual equity retainer (RSUs) | $160,000 (fully vested; held until post-service) |
Note: Quentin, as an employee-director, does not receive director retainers or equity under the Director plan; his compensation is paid as an employee.
Say-on-Pay & Shareholder Feedback (Context)
- In 2024, a majority supported say-on-pay, including approximately 92.1% of Class A holders, following outreach to over 60% of Class A shareholders in FY2025.
Governance Assessment
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Strengths
- Transparent disclosure of Quentin’s employment/compensation and family relationships, with Independent Committee processes in place for related party transactions.
- Robust insider trading, anti-hedging/pledging, and RSU holding policies that improve alignment.
- Company-wide incentive design ties long-term equity to objective financial metrics (Revenues/AOI) with disclosed outcomes for PSU cycles.
-
Concerns / RED FLAGS
- Not independent; direct familial relationship to the Executive Chairman & CEO, and simultaneous employment, create potential conflict and limit board independence.
- Controlled company structure gives the Dolan Family Group decisive voting control, reducing minority shareholder influence on director elections and say-on-pay outcomes.
- Extensive cross-board interlocks and intercompany transactions necessitate rigorous Independent Committee scrutiny to mitigate conflicts.
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Net view
- Quentin’s operational role (player performance/science), plus cross-entity board exposure, may add domain familiarity, but his lack of independence and family ties elevate conflict risk; investors should monitor Independent Committee rigor, attendance, and any expansion of his duties or compensation.