Grace R. Skaugen
PJT PartnersAbout Grace R. Skaugen
Grace Reksten Skaugen (age 71) has served as an independent director of PJT Partners since July 2020; she is a physicist by training with a PhD in laser physics from Imperial College London and an MBA from BI Norwegian School of Management, with prior investment banking advisory roles and multiple European board leadership positions . Her background spans energy, transportation and technology sectors, including senior advisory roles at HSBC and Deutsche Bank and founding the Norwegian Institute of Directors, providing strong governance credentials and global perspective .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEB (Nordic bank) | Investment banking advisor (energy, transportation, technology) | Not disclosed | Sector advisory experience |
| HSBC | Senior advisor | 2014–2019 | Global financial services advisory |
| Deutsche Bank | Senior advisor | 2007–2014 | Global financial services advisory |
| Equinor (formerly Statoil) | Board member; Deputy Chair | Board: 2002–2015; Deputy Chair: 2012–2015 | Energy governance and oversight |
| Orkla ASA | Board member; Deputy Chair; Compensation Committee Chair | 2012–2020 | Led compensation oversight |
| Lundin Energy AB | Board member | 2015–2022 | Compensation and Sustainability Committees |
| Euronav NV | Chair; Director | 2016–2023 | Compensation, Sustainability, Corporate Governance & Nomination Committees |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orrön Energy AB | Chair; Compensation Committee Chair | Current | Energy sector governance |
| Investor AB | Board member; Audit & Risk Committee Chair | Current | Audit/risk oversight for public investment company |
| International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) | Trustee; Honorary Treasurer | Current | Strategic/geopolitical governance experience |
| Norwegian Institute of Directors | Co-founder; Deputy Chair | Since 2009 | Director education and governance standards |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee member; designated “financially literate” and an “audit committee financial expert” under NYSE and SEC rules .
- Independence: Board determined she is independent under NYSE listing standards; PJT’s board has five independent directors out of seven .
- Attendance and engagement: In 2024, the Board met five times and the Audit Committee met seven times; every director attended at least 75% of Board and committee meetings on which they served . Executive sessions of non-management directors are held after each regularly scheduled Board meeting; four executive sessions were held in 2024 .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount/Policy | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual retainer (non-management director) | $225,000 for service period June 1–May 31 | Effective June 1, 2025, increased to $250,000 |
| Form of payment | Minimum 50% in RSUs; director may elect up to 100% RSUs | RSUs vest quarterly over the service year; settlement deferred to earliest of termination, 5th anniversary of grant, or change in control |
| New director one-time RSU grant | $100,000 value; vests annually over four years; same accelerated vesting triggers and settlement timing as above |
Performance Compensation
| Grant Year | Instrument | Shares/Units | Grant Date Fair Value per Share | Vesting Schedule | Settlement |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 (FY 2024 director comp) | RSUs | 1,038 | $108.42 | 25% on Aug 31, 2024; Nov 30, 2024; Feb 28, 2025; May 31, 2025 (subject to continued service) | Earliest of termination, June 1, 2029, or change in control; in Class A stock or cash at committee’s discretion |
| FY 2024 director comp total | Mix | $112,500 cash; $112,500 stock awards; total $225,000 | — | — | — |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Market | Role | Interlock/Committee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investor AB | Sweden (public) | Director; Audit & Risk Committee Chair | Audit and risk interlock at major investment holding company |
| Orrön Energy AB | Sweden (public) | Chair; Compensation Committee Chair | Compensation oversight in energy company |
| Prior: Equinor, Orkla, Lundin Energy, Euronav | Norway/Sweden/Belgium (public) | Director/Chair roles | Compensation, Sustainability, Governance committees |
- Potential conflicts/related-party exposure: PJT’s proxy lists related-party agreements (Exchange Agreement, Registration Rights, Tax Receivable Agreement, sublease with Dynasty Equity Partners) but does not disclose transactions involving Ms. Skaugen specifically in that section . No Compensation Committee interlocks involve her (she is not on PJT’s Compensation Committee) .
Expertise & Qualifications
- International financial services, corporate governance, board leadership, and audit/risk oversight across European public companies .
- Audit committee financial expertise designation at PJT; financially literate under NYSE standards .
- Skills matrix indicates strength in banking/financial services, financial reporting, risk management, international business, corporate sustainability, and strategic planning .
Equity Ownership
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Class A shares beneficially owned | 9,500; <1% of outstanding |
| Class B shares beneficially owned | None disclosed |
| Partnership Units | None disclosed |
| Unvested RSUs (as of 12/31/2024) | 523 (includes dividend equivalents) |
| Director ownership guideline | At least 3× annual retainer; compliance expected within five years; directors are, or expected to be, in compliance |
| Hedging/pledging policy | Hedging prohibited; pledging prohibited unless approved by General Counsel |
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: She strengthens Audit Committee oversight as a designated audit committee financial expert and independent director; her European board chair roles and audit/risk experience add depth to PJT’s risk oversight and financial reporting capabilities .
- Alignment: Director compensation structure requires at least 50% equity via RSUs and a 3× retainer ownership guideline with deferred settlement, enhancing long-term alignment; her disclosed holdings and unvested RSUs support skin-in-the-game .
- Independence and engagement: Independent status, attendance above the 75% threshold, and participation in executive sessions indicate active, engaged oversight .
- Conflicts/red flags: No related-party transactions involving her are disclosed; hedging is prohibited and pledging limited, reducing alignment risk. The presence of a sublease with Dynasty Equity (linked to another director) is a board-level related-party item but does not implicate her directly .
- Committee composition: PJT’s Audit Committee is fully independent; Compensation and Nominating/Governance committees are also fully independent, indicating strong governance architecture; her focus remains on audit/risk rather than pay decisions, limiting interlock risks .