Emnet Rios
About Emnet Rios
Emnet Rios (age 47) is an independent director of Repay Holdings Corporation (RPAY) serving since January 2022; she is Chief Financial Officer of Digital Asset Holdings and previously served concurrently as Chief Operating Officer (Jul 2019–Jan 2023). Her background spans finance, HR, and operations leadership in financial services and technology, including over 10 years at NatWest (RBS) and 5+ years at IBM, positioning her with relevant audit and technology oversight expertise .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Asset Holdings | Chief Financial Officer | Jul 2018–present | Finance leadership for DLT products |
| Digital Asset Holdings | Chief Operating Officer | Jul 2019–Jan 2023 | Operations leadership during growth phase |
| NatWest Group (RBS) | Various finance roles; restructuring | Over 10 years | Involved in bank restructuring post-2008 |
| IBM | Leadership roles (HQ, NY) | Over 5 years | Technology/operations experience |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Asset Holdings (private) | Chief Financial Officer | Jul 2018–present | DLT/enterprise software focus |
| Public company directorships | — | — | None disclosed in RPAY proxy |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee (member) and Technology Committee (member). Not a chair; Audit chaired by Robert H. Hartheimer; Technology chaired by Maryann Goebel .
- Independence: Board determined Ms. Rios is independent under Nasdaq and SEC rules .
- Attendance and engagement: Board met 9 times in 2024; all incumbent directors attended at least 75% of Board and committee meetings; all directors attended the 2024 annual meeting .
- Committee activity levels (2024): Audit (4 meetings); Technology (4 meetings) .
- Executive sessions: Independent directors hold executive sessions at least twice per year .
- Tenure on RPAY Board: Director since January 2022 .
Fixed Compensation (Non-Employee Director Pay – 2024)
| Component | Amount ($) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | 40,000 | Standard non-employee director retainer |
| Audit Committee member fee | 7,500 | Annual cash for Audit membership |
| Other committee member fee (Technology) | 5,000 | Annual cash for non-Audit committee membership |
| Total cash earned (reported) | 52,500 | As disclosed for Ms. Rios in 2024 |
Performance Compensation (Equity)
| Equity Type | Grant/Valuation Date | Grant Value ($) | Vesting | Settlement | Outstanding Stock Awards (12/31/2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Restricted Stock Units (annual) | May 30, 2024 | 169,993 | Earlier of first anniversary or next annual meeting ≥50 weeks after grant; accelerates on change in control or death/disability | Earlier of separation from service or change in control | 63,103 RSUs outstanding for Ms. Rios |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Committee Roles | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | — | No other public company directorships disclosed |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Finance, HR, and operations leadership across high-growth and enterprise contexts; M&A and restructuring experience (NatWest/RBS) .
- Technology and distributed ledger/blockchain domain expertise (Digital Asset) .
- Fits RPAY’s board skill needs (technology risk and audit literacy) via Technology and Audit Committee assignments .
Equity Ownership
| Metric | Detail |
|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership | 63,103 shares/units (less than 1% of Class A) |
| Pledging | No director or executive officer has pledged any disclosed shares/units |
| Anti-hedging/pledging policy | Prohibits hedging/short sales; discourages pledging; preclearance required |
| Director ownership guideline | 5× annual cash retainer within 5 years; reviewed annually |
| Compliance status | As of most recent review, all directors in compliance (considering ramp) |
Governance Assessment
- Alignment and independence: Independent director with roles on Audit and Technology; Board affirms independence; Audit Committee comprised solely of independent directors; Rios contributes to oversight of financial reporting and cyber/tech risk .
- Engagement: Board/committee attendance thresholds met across directors; committees active (Audit 4; Technology 4 meetings in 2024) supporting robust oversight cadence .
- Pay structure: Director compensation is equity-heavy (~$170k RSUs vs $52.5k cash), promoting ownership alignment; RSUs vest on annual cycle and are settled upon separation/change in control, reinforcing long-term orientation .
- Ownership and policies: No pledging; anti-hedging policy in place; director ownership guideline of 5× retainer and disclosed compliance strengthen alignment .
- Related-party/conflict review: On appointment, no related-party transactions involving Rios; 2025 proxy lists related-party items involving others (e.g., TRA payments; contractor related to another executive), with none naming Rios—no conflicts identified for Rios .
- Shareholder sentiment: Say-on-pay approval of ~96% at 2024 annual meeting indicates supportive governance/compensation framework, indirectly bolstering board credibility .
- RED FLAGS: None observed specific to Rios (no attendance issues, pledging, or related-party ties disclosed). Continue to monitor any future business relationships between RPAY and Digital Asset; none disclosed to date .