Alex Rampell
Rocket CompaniesAbout Alex Rampell
Alex Rampell (age 43) is an independent Class II director of Rocket Companies, Inc., serving since February 2024; he is a General Partner at Andreessen Horowitz focusing on financial services and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science from Harvard University . He is nominated for re‑election to a three‑year term ending at the 2028 annual meeting; the Board cites his AI expertise and fintech background as core credentials for Rocket’s strategy .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andreessen Horowitz | General Partner (financial services focus) | Oct 2015–present | Led investments; board service for multiple portfolio companies |
| KCG Holdings, Inc. | Director | 2015–2017 | Public company board experience |
| Affirm; FraudEliminator; Point; TrialPay; TXN; Yub | Co‑founder | — | Serial fintech entrepreneurship; technology and governance perspective |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise Ltd. (LSE: WISE.L) | Director | Since 2021 | Public company board; foreign‑listed experience |
Board Governance
- Independence: The Board determined Alex Rampell is independent under NYSE rules .
- Committees: None; he is not currently a member of Audit, Compensation, or Nominating & Governance Committees .
- Board attendance: The Board met 5 times in 2024; each director attended at least 75% of Board and committee meetings on which they served; all then‑current directors attended the 2024 annual meeting .
- Controlled company context: Rocket remains a “controlled company” under NYSE rules; three independent directors constitute the Audit Committee; independent directors hold executive sessions (generally presided by Jonathan Mariner) .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | 2024 Program Terms | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer (All Non‑Affiliated Directors) | $75,000 | Paid quarterly in arrears |
| Committee Chair fee | $30,000 | Per committee; annual |
| Committee Member fee (non‑Chair) | $15,000 | Per committee; annual |
| Meeting fees | None | No per‑meeting fees |
| Annual RSU award (grant value) | $215,000 | Granted at the annual meeting; vests in full at earlier of first anniversary or next annual meeting; dividend equivalents paid in cash upon vesting; COC acceleration if not continued/assumed; immediate vesting upon death/disability |
| Director | 2024 Fees Earned (Cash) | 2024 Stock Awards (Fair Value) | Unvested RSUs at 12/31/2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Rampell | $68,613 | $296,042 | 22,623 |
Performance Compensation
- Directors do not receive performance‑based bonuses; equity is time‑based RSUs with the following terms . | Equity Vehicle | Grant Date(s) | Number of Shares | Grant‑Date Fair Value | Vesting Schedule | Dividend Equivalents | COC/Termination Treatment | |---|---|---:|---:|---|---|---| | RSUs (Annual) | Annual meeting date | — | $215,000 | Vest in full at earlier of first anniversary or next annual meeting | Paid in cash at settlement on vested RSUs | Immediate vesting if awards not continued/assumed or director not continuing; immediate vesting upon death/disability | | RSUs (Initial appointment) | Feb 1, 2024 | — | Included in $296,042 total 2024 stock awards | As granted at appointment (not separately detailed) | As per plan | As per plan |
Note: As of 12/31/2024, Rampell held 22,623 unvested RSUs; the grant‑date share counts for his initial and annual grants were not separately disclosed .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Period | Potential Interlock/Conflict Consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise Ltd. | Director | 2021–present | No Rocket‑related transactions disclosed |
| KCG Holdings, Inc. | Director | 2015–2017 | Prior role; no current Rocket link |
| Andreessen Horowitz | General Partner | 2015–present | No related‑party transactions with Rocket disclosed; Rocket’s RPT policy governs any such situations |
Expertise & Qualifications
- AI/technology and fintech expertise; serial entrepreneur in tech‑driven financial companies .
- Harvard University BA in Applied Mathematics and Computer Science; governance perspective from public boards including foreign‑listed Wise Ltd. .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Class A Shares Beneficially Owned | Ownership % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alex Rampell | 22,623 | <1% | Includes 5,668 shares subject to RSUs vesting within 60 days of May 20, 2025 |
| Director Ownership Guidelines | 5x annual cash retainer | — | Non‑Affiliated Directors must own shares equal to 5× retainer; as of 12/31/2024, all Non‑Affiliated Directors had met or were on track within 5‑year period |
| Hedging/Pledging Policy | — | — | Prohibits short sales and derivatives; discourages speculative hedging; allows long‑term hedging (≥6 months) subject to pre‑clearance; trading blackout periods and 10b5‑1 plan controls apply |
Governance Assessment
- Independence and attendance: Rampell is formally independent; attendance met Board standards in 2024, supporting investor confidence in engagement .
- Committee influence: No current committee assignments; his AI/fintech domain expertise strengthens board skill mix but limits direct committee oversight impact (e.g., Audit/Compensation) .
- Compensation alignment: Director pay is standard market‑aligned cash retainer plus time‑based RSUs; robust 5× retainer ownership guideline enhances alignment; dividend equivalents paid only upon vesting on RSUs .
- Related‑party safeguards: No related‑party transactions involving Rampell were disclosed; Rocket’s updated Related Person Transaction Policy requires Audit Committee oversight, pre‑approval thresholds, and independent director review for any future transactions .
- Controlled company risks: Ongoing controlled status concentrates voting power; however, independent directors (including Rampell) and independent Audit Committee structure provide checks; executive sessions are led by the Audit Chair (Mariner) .
RED FLAGS
- None disclosed related to Rampell: no hedging/pledging issues, no related‑party transactions, and compliance/on‑track with ownership guidelines .
Signals to monitor
- Future committee assignments for Rampell (e.g., technology/cyber oversight via Audit) could increase governance impact; Board has cited his AI leadership as a strategic fit .
- Any Andreessen Horowitz portfolio interactions with Rocket should be vetted under the RPT policy to preserve independence and avoid conflicts .