Valerie Jarrett
RALPH LAURENAbout Valerie Jarrett
Valerie Jarrett (age 68) has served on Ralph Lauren Corporation’s Board since October 2020. She is Chief Executive Officer of the Obama Foundation, a Senior Distinguished Fellow at the University of Chicago Law School, and has been designated an audit committee financial expert by RL’s Board. She holds a B.A. from Stanford University and a J.D. from the University of Michigan .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Source |
|---|---|---|
| The White House | Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama; Oversaw Offices of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs; Chaired White House Council on Women and Girls | |
| The Habitat Company (Chicago) | Chief Executive Officer | |
| City of Chicago | Chairman, Chicago Transit Board; Commissioner of Planning & Development; Deputy Chief of Staff to Mayor Richard M. Daley | |
| Chicago Stock Exchange | Chairman & CEO | |
| University of Chicago Medical Center | Chairman, Board of Trustees | |
| Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago | Director |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Obama Foundation | Chief Executive Officer | |
| Civic Nation | Board Chair | |
| The United State of Women | Co-Chair | |
| Walgreens Boots Alliance | Director (public company) | |
| Ariel Investments | Director | |
| Economic Club of Chicago | Director | |
| Sesame Workshop | Director | |
| University of Chicago Law School | Senior Distinguished Fellow |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Chair, Nominating, Governance, Citizenship & Sustainability Committee; Member, Audit Committee; designated audit committee financial expert .
- Independence: RL’s Board determined Valerie Jarrett and all non-management director nominees are independent; independence review considered charitable contributions and ordinary-course transactions and found them immaterial under NYSE standards .
- Attendance and engagement: In FY2025 the Board met 4 times; Audit 4; Nominating 4; Talent 4; Finance 5; all directors attended at least 75% of required meetings. Independent directors met in executive session at least quarterly, both at the start and end of each Board meeting .
- Governance processes: Nominating Committee (chaired by Jarrett) oversees corporate governance, director evaluation, succession policies (including CEO), related party reviews, and citizenship/sustainability oversight with quarterly reporting to the Board .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | FY2025 Amount | Terms | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer (non-employee director) | $95,000 | Paid quarterly in arrears | |
| Committee chair fee (per committee) | $30,000 | Audit/Talent/Nominating/Finance chairs | |
| Committee member fee (per committee) | $15,000 | Audit/Talent/Nominating/Finance members | |
| Annual equity grant (RSUs) | $170,036 | 985 RSUs of Class A; vest on 1-year anniversary of grant | |
| Valerie Jarrett—Fees earned (cash) | $155,000 | Reflects retainer plus chair/member fees | |
| Valerie Jarrett—Stock awards (grant-date fair value) | $170,036 | Annual RSU grant | |
| Valerie Jarrett—Total FY2025 director compensation | $325,036 | Cash + equity |
Stock ownership guideline for directors: 5× annual cash retainer; all non-employee directors exceeded their FY2025 target .
Performance Compensation
| Feature | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Award type | Restricted Stock Units (time-based) for non-employee directors | |
| Vesting | RSUs vest one year after grant | |
| Performance metrics | None disclosed for director equity awards (time-based vesting only) | |
| Clawback/anti-hedging/pledging | Company prohibits pledging, hedging, and short selling by directors; NEO clawback policy applies to executives (director clawback not specified) |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company/Organization | Potential Interlock/Conflict Consideration | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Walgreens Boots Alliance (public) | No RL-related party transactions disclosed involving Jarrett; independence affirmed after considering charitable/commercial ties | |
| Ariel Investments; Economic Club of Chicago; Sesame Workshop | No RL-related party transactions disclosed involving Jarrett; independence affirmed | |
| Civic Nation; USOW; Obama Foundation | Nominating Committee (chaired by Jarrett) reviews related party transactions; no Jarrett-specific related party transactions disclosed |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Policy/regulatory/governance leadership with deep public-sector experience; extensive board and civic leadership; recognized as an audit committee financial expert .
- Senior executive experience (Obama Foundation CEO) and broad oversight background across governance, talent, and sustainability relevant to RL’s strategic oversight priorities .
Equity Ownership
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Class A shares beneficially owned | 5,496 | |
| Percent of Class A outstanding | * | |
| RSUs held at FY2025-end | 992.5 (includes dividend equivalent units) | |
| Stock ownership guideline compliance | Exceeded FY2025 target (5× retainer) | |
| Pledging/hedging status | Prohibited by RL policy for directors |
Governance Assessment
- Effectiveness: Jarrett’s dual role as Nominating Chair and Audit Committee member—plus audit financial expert designation—supports strong governance, risk oversight (including sustainability), and board effectiveness processes (annual and third-party assessments) .
- Alignment: Director pay mix favors equity with 1-year RSU vesting and robust ownership guidelines; anti-hedging/pledging policy enhances alignment and reduces misalignment risks .
- Independence/Conflicts: RL’s independence review found charitable/commercial ties immaterial; “Certain Relationships” disclosures list Lauren-family transactions, with no Jarrett-related transactions disclosed—reducing related-party risk signals .
- Attendance/Engagement: Board and committees met regularly with high participation; independent executive sessions at each meeting bolster independent oversight .
RED FLAGS: None disclosed specific to Valerie Jarrett. No related-party transactions, hedging/pledging is prohibited, and independence affirmed under NYSE standards .