Jeffrey W. White
About Jeffrey W. White
Jeffrey W. White (born 1971) serves as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer, and Treasurer of Templeton Dragon Fund, Inc. (TDF) since 2024; he is also an officer of certain funds within the Franklin Templeton fund complex . Prior to his current role, he was Director and Assistant Treasurer within Franklin Templeton Global Fund Tax and Fund Administration and Financial Reporting (2017–2023) . Fund officers are compensated by Franklin Templeton affiliates and not by TDF, and no officer-specific salary or incentive details are disclosed in TDF’s proxy . On his initial Form 3 filed January 2, 2024, White reported no beneficial ownership of TDF securities .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Templeton Dragon Fund, Inc. | Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer & Treasurer | 2024–Present | Senior finance and reporting leadership for a NYSE-listed closed-end fund |
| Franklin Templeton Global Fund Tax and Fund Administration & Financial Reporting | Director & Assistant Treasurer | 2017–2023 | Oversight in tax, fund administration, and financial reporting across Franklin Templeton funds |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| None disclosed | — | — | Proxy lists “Other Directorships… Not Applicable” for White |
Fixed Compensation
- The Investment Manager or its affiliates pay the salaries and expenses of TDF’s officers; TDF does not compensate officers directly, and the proxy provides no disclosure of White’s base salary, bonus, or cash compensation .
Performance Compensation
- No performance-based compensation details (metrics, targets, payouts, vesting) for TDF officers are disclosed in the proxy; compensation for officers is handled by Franklin Templeton affiliates and not reported at the fund level .
Equity Ownership & Alignment
| Item | Value | As-of | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| TDF Shares Beneficially Owned (Form 3) | 0 shares | 01/02/2024 | Initial statement; “No securities are beneficially owned.” |
| Directors & Officers (group) Ownership | <1% of outstanding shares | 03/10/2025 | Group ownership as disclosed in proxy |
- No disclosure of pledging, hedging, or officer ownership guidelines for White in TDF’s proxy. Independent Directors follow an investment policy to hold Templeton fund shares, but this does not apply to officers .
Employment Terms
| Term | Details |
|---|---|
| Position | Chief Financial Officer, Chief Accounting Officer & Treasurer |
| Start Date | Since 2024 (January 2024 referenced) |
| Employment Basis | Officer of TDF and certain Franklin Templeton funds; appointed by the Board, serving at the Board’s pleasure |
| Contract/Severance/Change-of-Control | Not disclosed in TDF filings; officers’ compensation and employment terms administered by Franklin Templeton affiliates |
Performance & Track Record
- Role progression: From Director & Assistant Treasurer in Franklin Templeton’s fund tax, administration, and reporting (2017–2023) to CFO/CAO/Treasurer of TDF starting 2024, implying increasing responsibility over fund-level finance and reporting .
- Stock or operating performance metrics tied to his tenure are not discussed in TDF proxy materials; the fund’s proxy focuses on Board governance, auditor selection, and principal shareholders rather than officer performance measurement .
Board Governance (Officer Context)
- Officers are appointed by the Directors and serve at the pleasure of the Board; governance oversight of financial reporting is through the Audit Committee comprising Independent Directors .
- The Audit Committee directly oversees auditor appointment, independence, and reporting; PwC was ratified for 2025, with fees detailed in the proxy .
Investment Implications
- Compensation transparency risk: As a closed-end fund, TDF does not disclose officer-level cash/equity compensation, performance metrics, or severance/change-of-control terms; this reduces visibility into pay-for-performance alignment for White (compensation is paid by Franklin Templeton affiliates) .
- Ownership alignment: White reported zero TDF beneficial ownership on his Form 3; Directors and officers as a group hold <1% of shares, indicating limited direct “skin-in-the-game” from officers at the fund level .
- Retention and execution risk appear anchored to Franklin Templeton’s broader employment and incentive structures rather than fund-level contracts; lack of disclosed vesting/award structures or clawbacks for officers at TDF limits assessment of incentive levers tied to TSR or NAV performance .
- Governance oversight is strong at the Board/Audit Committee level, with detailed auditor independence and risk oversight frameworks; however, absence of officer-specific performance metrics in fund filings constrains predictive analysis on compensation-driven behavior or insider selling pressure .