Jennifer Gilbert
Rocket CompaniesAbout Jennifer Gilbert
Independent-minded entrepreneur and designer; currently a non-independent Class I director of Rocket Companies (RKT). Age 56; director since March 2020; member of the Nominating & Governance Committee. She is the spouse of Dan Gilbert (Founder/Chair) and has founded/led multiple design and tech ventures (POPHOUSE; Amber Engine—sold March 2022; Doodle Home—sold 2015). Bachelor of Arts in Interior Design, Michigan State University . Independence designation: not listed among RKT’s four independent directors as of 2025 .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| POPHOUSE (Detroit) | Founder & Creative Director | 2013–present | Commercial design firm leveraging data and research for workplaces |
| Amber Engine (sold to Material Bank) | Founder | 2015–Mar 2022 (sale) | SaaS product data platform for home furnishings; founded and exited |
| Doodle Home (sold to Dering Hall) | Founder | Prior to 2015 (sale) | Digital platform for residential interior designers; founded and exited |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rock Holdings Inc. (RHI) | Director | Since 2019 | RKT’s former principal stockholder prior to Up‑C collapse; affiliate of Dan Gilbert |
| ROCK (Dan Gilbert family enterprise) | Board Member | N/A | Affiliate role; part of Dan Gilbert entities |
| Gilbert Family Foundation | Board Member | N/A | Philanthropic governance role |
| NF Forward | President | N/A | Non-profit focused on neurofibromatosis research |
| Cranbrook Academy of Art | Chair, Board of Governors | N/A | Arts-focused non-profit leadership |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Nominating & Governance Committee member; 2024 meetings: 3 .
- Independence status: Not among independent directors (independent directors are Mariner, Rampell, Shank, Tellem) .
- Attendance: Board met 5 times in 2024; each director attended at least 75% of Board and applicable committee meetings; all directors attended the 2024 annual meeting .
- Controlled company: RKT relies on NYSE controlled-company exemptions (not required to have majority independent board); Audit Committee is fully independent; Nominating & Governance includes an affiliate (Chair: M. Rizik; Members: S. Shank, J. Gilbert) .
- Executive sessions: Independent/non-management directors meet in executive session; Jonathan Mariner generally presides .
Fixed Compensation (Director)
| Year | Cash Retainer (Board) | Committee Chair Fee | Committee Member Fee | Meeting Fees | Equity (RSU grant value) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Policy (Non‑Affiliated Directors) | $75,000 | $30,000 | $15,000 | — | $215,000 | Time‑based RSUs vest at next AGM/1‑yr; dividend equivalents paid at settlement . |
| 2024 – Jennifer Gilbert | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | Affiliated directors do not receive director compensation per policy; table shows no 2024 director pay . |
Performance Compensation (Director)
- No performance‑linked director compensation disclosed for Jennifer Gilbert (affiliated directors receive no cash/equity retainers). Non‑Affiliated Directors receive time‑based RSUs that vest at the next annual meeting or first anniversary—no performance metrics .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Public/Private/Non-Profit | Role | Potential Interlock/Related |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHI | Private | Director | RHI was RKT’s principal stockholder; extensive related‑party transactions between RKT and RHI affiliates –. |
| POPHOUSE | Private | Founder/Creative Director | POPHOUSE provided services to RKT (Received Services) as an affiliate; see related‑party exposure below . |
| Gilbert Family Foundation, NF Forward, Cranbrook Academy of Art | Non‑profit | Board/President/Chair | Philanthropic roles . |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Entrepreneurial and design/technology background (founded multiple design-tech businesses); emphasis on innovation, client experience, and data‑driven solutions .
- Community and non‑profit leadership experience provides perspective on culture, sustainability, and human capital .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Class A Shares Beneficially Owned (5/20/2025) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jennifer Gilbert | 0 | Not listed with beneficial holdings in security ownership table . |
| Dan Gilbert | 1,848,879,483 Class D shares paired with Holdings Units (92.4% on fully exchanged basis) | Controls 79% of combined voting power via Voting Limitation; Jennifer is spouse (no beneficial ownership reported for her) – . |
Related‑Party Exposure (Conflict Risk)
| Transaction Category (2024) | Counterparty/Entity | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Services acquired by RKT from affiliates (“Received Services”) | Affiliates incl. ROCK, Sift, Rock Security, POPHOUSE, Bedrock | $21.2 million | POPHOUSE (founded by Jennifer Gilbert) is among service providers; fees reflect cost plus margin; includes design/consulting services . |
| Real estate leases (office/HQ) | Bedrock and affiliates | $73.5 million | Rent, CAM, services, property maintenance; Bedrock is Dan Gilbert affiliate . |
| Additional parking rights | Bedrock/agents | $14.8 million | Parking procurement with Bedrock‑owned properties . |
| Arena naming rights | Cleveland Cavaliers | $11.1 million | Dan Gilbert is majority owner of Cavaliers; long‑term naming rights agreement through 2034 . |
| Services provided by RKT to affiliates (“Provided Services”) | RHI/affiliates; other Dan/Jennifer affiliates | $6.1 million fees + $12.4 million net pass‑through | Technology, HR, legal, analytics, marketing, etc. . |
| RHI/RTIC Debenture | RHI to Rocket Title Insurance Co. | $21.5 million principal; $1.7 million interest accrued in 2024 (paid down post‑year-end) | 8% surplus debenture; paid to zero subsequent to 12/31/24 . |
RED FLAGS:
- Spousal relationship with controlling shareholder/Chair (Dan Gilbert) and committee role (Nominating & Governance) create perceived conflicts in director oversight despite controlled-company exemptions .
- POPHOUSE included among affiliates paid for services; aggregate affiliate payments were material in 2024 ($21.2M Received Services; extensive Bedrock lease/naming rights spend) .
- No reported personal RKT share ownership for alignment (Non‑Affiliated director stock ownership guidelines do not apply to affiliated directors) .
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness and independence: Jennifer contributes entrepreneurial/client‑experience expertise but is not independent; RKT remains a controlled company with only four independent directors; Jennifer sits on Nominating & Governance with one independent (Shank) and an affiliate chair (Rizik) .
- Attendance/engagement: Company discloses all directors achieved at least 75% attendance for Board/committees; Board held 5 meetings in 2024; Nominating & Governance met 3 times, indicating baseline engagement .
- Compensation and alignment: As an affiliated director, she receives no director cash or equity compensation; no reported beneficial ownership of Class A; Non‑Affiliated directors follow a 5x retainer stock ownership guideline—affiliates excluded .
- Related‑party posture: Multiple ongoing transactions with affiliates (leases, services, sponsorship) including POPHOUSE; Audit Committee (independent) oversees related‑party transactions under policy, but perceived conflicts persist given scope/scale of affiliate dealings .
- Shareholder signals: 2024 say‑on‑pay support was 99.4%, suggesting broad investor acceptance of compensation design and disclosure; does not directly mitigate director‑level related‑party concerns .