Robert E. Grady
STIFEL FINANCIALAbout Robert E. Grady
Independent director since 2010 (age 67); Advisory Partner at Summit Partners, with prior senior roles at Carlyle and Robertson Stephens. He chairs SF’s Risk Management Committee and serves on the Nominations & Corporate Governance Committee; the Board has affirmatively determined his independence under NYSE/SEC rules. Education: MBA, Stanford Graduate School of Business; AB, Harvard College. Core credentials span private equity leadership, broker-dealer sector experience, federal/state government service, and ESG oversight .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summit Partners | Advisory Partner | 2021–present | Advisory responsibilities; aligns with private equity governance best practice |
| Gryphon Investors | Partner | 2015–2020 | Led investing activities; PE operating/board oversight experience |
| NJ State Investment Council | Chair | 2010–2014 | Oversight of public pension investments; fiduciary governance |
| The Carlyle Group | Partner & Managing Director | 2000–2009 | Global PE leadership; portfolio company governance |
| Robertson Stephens & Co. | Partner & Managing Director | 1993–2000 | Investment banking leadership; broker-dealer governance |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council on Foreign Relations | Member | Ongoing | Policy network, geopolitical risk perspective |
| Hoover Institution, Stanford | Board of Overseers | Ongoing | Academic policy oversight |
| Daniels Fund | Advisor to Investment Committee | Ongoing | Fiduciary oversight for philanthropic endowment |
| National Venture Capital Association | Former Chair | Prior | Industry governance leadership |
| Executive Office of the President (OMB) | Former Executive Associate Director | Prior | Federal budgeting/governance experience |
| White House | Former Deputy Assistant to President George H.W. Bush | Prior | Federal policy leadership |
| Maxim Integrated Products | Director (past 5 years) | Prior | Public company board experience |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Chair, Risk Management Committee; Member, Nominations & Corporate Governance Committee .
- Independence: Board determined Grady is independent under NYSE and SEC rules .
- Board/committee activity: Board met 9 times in 2024; incumbent continuing directors’ attendance of Board and their committee meetings exceeded 80%; executive sessions of independent directors occurred quarterly .
- Risk oversight: Risk Committee meets 6 times a year; covers aggregate risk exposures, ERM, regulatory responsiveness, reputational risk; holds a dedicated annual cybersecurity meeting .
- Nom/Gov oversight: Nominations & Corporate Governance Committee met 4 times; oversees board composition, self-evaluation, governance effectiveness, charitable/political policies .
- Capital & liquidity oversight: In 2024, charters updated to formalize oversight of capital adequacy and liquidity; a subgroup of Audit and Risk Committees coordinates joint oversight .
Fixed Compensation
| Year | Fees Earned (Cash) | Stock Unit Awards | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $0 (waived) | $0 (waived) | $0 |
Note: Standard non-employee director packages are $100,000 cash plus $150,000 in RSUs, with $30,000 additional cash retainer for committee chairs and the Lead Independent Director; Grady waived compensation to comply with Summit Partners policies .
Performance Compensation
- No performance-based components are disclosed for non-employee directors; director equity grants vest time-based, not performance-based .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Period | Potential Interlock/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maxim Integrated Products (NASDAQ: MXIM) | Director | Within past 5 years | Semiconductor company; no SF competitor interlock disclosed |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Private equity leadership and broker-dealer sector expertise; significant board/committee experience .
- Government, regulation, and public policy background at federal and state levels .
- ESG experience and academic governance roles (Hoover Institution) .
- Risk oversight credentials reflected in chairing SF’s Risk Management Committee, including cybersecurity oversight .
Equity Ownership
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership | 15,429 shares, held via Robert E. Grady Revocable Trust; <1% of outstanding shares |
| Stock units outstanding (director grants) | 0 (as of Dec 31, 2024) |
| Pledged shares | None; directors and executives have pledged no shares and do not hold shares in margin accounts |
| Director ownership guideline | Policy target: ≥$400,000 market value in SF common shares for non-employee directors |
| Compliance status | 15,429 shares × $106.08 (12/31/2024 close) ≈ $1.64 million, exceeding the $400,000 guideline |
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: Grady’s chair role on Risk Management and membership on Nominations & Corporate Governance aligns with his risk/governance background; formalization of capital/liquidity oversight strengthens board control of prudential risks .
- Independence & alignment: Affirmed independence; compensation waiver (cash and equity) reduces potential conflicts linked to external PE affiliations and signals governance discipline .
- Engagement & attendance: Board/committee activity robust (9 Board meetings; >80% attendance across incumbents; quarterly executive sessions), with risk and cyber oversight embedded in committee cadence .
- Conflicts/related party exposure: No Grady-specific related-party transactions disclosed; company policies enforce anti-hedging/anti-pledging and require approval for any pledging; loans to insiders (via Stifel Bancorp) are on market terms and performing .
- Investor confidence signals: Say-on-pay support exceeded 97% last year, reflecting broad shareholder endorsement of compensation governance (context for SF’s governance environment) .