Christian Cocks
MOLSON COORS BEVERAGEAbout Christian Cocks
Christian “Chris” P. Cocks (age 51) is the CEO of Hasbro, Inc. and was elected as an independent Class B director of Molson Coors (TAP) on May 14, 2025; his nomination highlighted deep experience in consumer goods, digital/e‑commerce, brand management and transformation . The Board determined him to be independent under NYSE standards; if elected (now elected), the proxy indicated he would join the Audit Committee, Compensation & HR Committee, and the Audit Committee’s Technology Subcommittee .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hasbro, Inc. | Chief Executive Officer | 2022 – Present | Led pivot to digital gaming IP monetization; cited for digital transformation and e‑commerce depth . |
| Wizards of the Coast & Digital Gaming (Hasbro) | President and COO | 2021 – 2022 | Scaled digital gaming; brand/IP commercialization . |
| Wizards of the Coast (Hasbro) | President | 2016 – 2021 | Oversaw growth of core gaming franchises . |
| Microsoft Corporation | VP, OEM Engineering; prior roles | 1999 – 2005, 2008 – 2016 | Senior product/engineering leadership in tech ecosystem . |
| LeapFrog Enterprises | VP, Educational Games | 2006 – 2008 | Consumer ed‑tech product leadership . |
External Roles
| Organization | Capacity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hasbro, Inc. | Director | Current public company directorship alongside CEO role . |
| Brown University Health | Director | Non‑profit/health system board role . |
Board Governance
- Election and mandate: Elected Class B director at the May 14, 2025 Annual Meeting; Class B votes “For” totaled 162,785,571 (withheld 4,052,621) for Cocks .
- Independence: Classified as independent under NYSE standards and company charter .
- Committee assignments: The 2025 proxy stated that, upon election, Cocks would serve on Audit, Compensation & HR, and the Audit Committee’s Technology Subcommittee (cyber/IT oversight) .
- Attendance baseline: Overall Board attendance in 2024 was ≥94% in aggregate; director‑level attendance for Cocks will first be reportable in the next proxy cycle given his May 2025 start .
Fixed Compensation
| Director Compensation Element (2024 framework) | Cash Retainer ($) | RSUs ($) | Total ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All independent directors (base) | 105,000 | 165,000 | 270,000 |
| Committee/Board leadership (examples) | Audit Chair 130,000; Comp & HR Chair 125,000; Finance Chair 120,000; Independent Governance Committee Member 125,000; Board Chair/Vice Chair 195,000 | 165,000 | Varies by role |
- Program mechanics: Non‑family directors may elect to receive 0%, 50%, or 100% of the cash retainer in shares or DSUs; RSUs typically cliff‑vest at the earlier of the 3‑year anniversary or retirement from the Board; dividend equivalents paid in cash at vest .
Performance Compensation
| Equity Instrument | Performance Linkage | Vesting / Terms |
|---|---|---|
| RSUs (annual director grant) | None (time‑based) | RSUs from 2024 grant (2,873 units at $57.45) cliff‑vest on May 16, 2027 or upon Board retirement; dividend equivalents paid at vest . |
| DSUs (optional election on cash retainer) | None (deferred) | Settled in Class B shares upon Board service termination; dividend equivalents paid in cash during vesting period . |
No director stock options or performance share units are part of the standard director program; the design emphasizes alignment via time‑vested RSUs/DSUs rather than performance metrics for directors .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
- Current public board: Hasbro, Inc. (CEO and director) .
- Non‑profit: Brown University Health (director) .
- Related‑party/Interlocks: The 2025 proxy’s “Certain Related Person Transactions” discloses multiple family‑affiliated transactions (e.g., CH Group/Montréal Canadiens, AVENIR GLOBAL), but no transactions with Hasbro or Mr. Cocks were disclosed .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Skills matrix/biography highlight senior executive leadership; consumer goods, brand management and marketing; digital/e‑commerce and technology; innovation; international; supply chain/operations; finance/capital allocation; and human capital management .
- The Board formed a Technology Subcommittee in 2024 to deepen oversight of cybersecurity/technology; Cocks was slated to join it upon election, aligning with his digital expertise .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Class A Shares | % Class A | Class B Shares | % Class B | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian “Chris” P. Cocks | — | — | — | — | No Molson Coors holdings reported as of the March 21, 2025 record date in the Beneficial Ownership table . |
- Stock ownership guidelines: Directors must hold 5x the annual retainer (measured over 5 years from joining); RSUs and DSUs count toward compliance .
Say‑on‑Pay & Shareholder Feedback (context for governance quality)
- 2025 Say‑on‑Pay approval (Class A & B voting together): For 167,356,874; Against 4,390,706; Abstain 195,467 (strong support) .
- Compensation committee independence: The Board uses independent compensation consultants (WTW through July 2024, then Meridian) and reported no consultant conflicts .
Risk Controls, Policies, and Potential Conflicts
- Independence and hedging/pledging: Directors are prohibited from hedging and short sales; pledging is broadly prohibited with narrow, pre‑approved exceptions requiring Audit Committee oversight; outstanding pledges are monitored and not viewed as creating material adverse risk .
- Related‑party review: The Audit Committee (or full Board for Molson/Coors family matters) reviews and approves related‑party transactions under a written policy; no transactions involving Mr. Cocks or Hasbro were disclosed in 2025 proxy materials .
Governance Assessment
-
Positives
- Independent director with cross‑industry operating depth in consumer products, technology, and digital channels; slated for audit/compensation/technology roles, reinforcing oversight where his skills are most relevant .
- Strong shareholder‑alignment architecture: time‑vested RSUs/DSUs, 5x retainer ownership guideline, anti‑hedging/anti‑short provisions, and enhanced pledging controls .
- Robust Board governance: majority independent, third‑party Board effectiveness assessment, strong attendance in 2024, and active shareholder engagement; high Say‑on‑Pay support in 2025 .
-
Watch items
- First‑year director with no TAP share ownership reported as of record date; guideline allows 5 years to reach 5x retainer via RSUs/DSUs and potential open‑market purchases .
- Committee effectiveness and attendance for Cocks will be observable beginning with 2025 meeting/activity disclosures in the next proxy cycle (no individual attendance data yet due to May 2025 start) .