Robert S. Wiesenthal
TripAdvisorAbout Robert S. Wiesenthal
Independent director since 2011; age 58 (2025). Founder and CEO of Blade Air Mobility, Inc. since July 2015; previously COO of Warner Music Group (2013–2015), EVP and CFO at Sony Corporation (2000–2012), and Managing Director at Credit Suisse First Boston (1988–2000). Holds a B.A. from the University of Rochester. Recognized as an “audit committee financial expert.”
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blade Air Mobility, Inc. | Founder & Chief Executive Officer | Jul 2015–present | Led global air mobility platform expansion |
| Warner Music Group Corp. | Chief Operating Officer | Jan 2013–Jul 2015 | Senior operating leadership in global music conglomerate |
| Sony Corporation | EVP & CFO; other senior roles | 2000–2012 | Corporate finance leadership, M&A, strategic transactions |
| Credit Suisse First Boston | Managing Director, Head of Digital Media & Entertainment; other roles | 1988–2000 | Investment banking leadership |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Since/Through | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blade Air Mobility, Inc. | Director | May 2021–present | Board service concurrent with CEO role |
| Starz | Director (prior) | Prior service (dates not specified) | Former public company directorship |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee Chair; members include Trynka Shineman Blake and Jeremy Philips; all are independent and designated “audit committee financial experts.” Audit Committee met 4 times in 2024.
- Independence: Board determined Wiesenthal independent under SEC and Nasdaq rules (2024 and reaffirmed post-loss of controlled status); Audit Committee members satisfy independence requirements.
- Attendance: In 2024 the Board met 8 times; all directors attended at least 75% of Board and applicable committee meetings.
- Lead Independent Director: Jeremy Philips appointed April 29, 2025; independent chairs lead key committees.
- Election outcomes:
- 2024 (common stock class seats): For 66,528,131; Withheld 31,118,674; Broker non-votes 9,880,500.
- 2025: For 78,936,999; Withheld 5,146,688; Broker non-votes 12,538,089.
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Board cash retainer | $50,000 | Paid quarterly |
| Audit Committee member retainer | $20,000 | Per member, annual |
| Audit Committee Chair premium | $10,000 | Additional annual chair fee |
| 2024 Cash fees (actual) | $80,000 | Sum of retainers |
| 2024 RSU grant (aggregate grant date fair value) | $249,990 | Time-based RSUs |
| 2024 Total director compensation | $329,990 | Cash + RSUs |
| Director deferred comp plan availability | Yes | Optional deferral of fees; share units/cash fund options |
- Stock ownership guidelines: Directors expected to hold ≥3× annual cash retainer; as of Mar 31, 2025 all directors met threshold or were within the permitted period to attain compliance. Hedging and pledging prohibited by policy.
Performance Compensation
| Equity Award | Grant Type | Grant Value (2024) | Vesting | Units Outstanding (as of 12/31/2024) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual director equity | RSUs | $249,990 | Vests in full on first anniversary; accelerates on Change in Control | 13,616 RSUs per director |
- No director PSUs/options are disclosed for Wiesenthal; director equity is time-based, not performance-conditioned.
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Committee Roles | Potential Interlocks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blade Air Mobility, Inc. | Director | Not disclosed | Outside CEO/Director role; no Tripadvisor related-party transactions disclosed involving Wiesenthal |
| Starz | Prior Director | Not disclosed | Historical only |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Financial literacy and M&A expertise; prior CFO and MD roles across media and technology; audit committee financial expert designation.
- Strategic and operational leadership in consumer electronics, entertainment, and digital media.
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | % of Common | Components |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert S. Wiesenthal | 73,483 | <1% | Includes 13,616 RSUs that will vest within 60 days of April 29, 2025; no options disclosed for Wiesenthal |
- Company-level prohibitions on hedging/pledging; compliance with Section 16 reporting in 2024.
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent Audit Chair with financial expert status; steady attendance; robust audit oversight (external auditor independence, internal audit, cybersecurity, ESG integration). Director ownership guidelines bolster alignment; hedging/pledging prohibited.
- Shareholder support: 2025 re-election support strong (93.9% of votes cast excluding broker non-votes); 2024 common-stock class withhold was elevated versus peers but remained a majority “For” outcome.
- Conflicts/related-party risk: No related-party transactions disclosed involving Wiesenthal; independence affirmed.
- Committee effectiveness: Audit Committee met regularly (4× in 2024) and oversees key financial, compliance, and risk matters, including ESG and cybersecurity.
RED FLAGS: None disclosed specific to Wiesenthal (no pledging/hedging, no related-party transactions, and independence affirmed).