Gaëlle Wizenberg
About Gaëlle Wizenberg
Gaëlle Wizenberg, age 50, is an independent director of XWELL who joined the Board effective January 1, 2024, bringing over 25 years of entrepreneurial experience in branding, manufacturing, and global consumer goods distribution . She founded Objects of Magic SAV de CV in October 2024 and Objects of Magic LLC in August 2022; previously founded Winc Design Limited in 2007 and built the Charlie Banana brand (sold to Procter & Gamble), consulting to P&G from 2020–2023 .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Objects of Magic SAV de CV | Founder & CEO | Oct 2024–present | Wellness goods and retreats (formation disclosed) |
| Objects of Magic LLC | Founder & CEO | Aug 2022–present | Wellness brand; team-building and retreats |
| Charlie Banana Consulting, LLC | Director & CEO | Jul 2019–Mar 2025 | Consulting to consumer/wellness brands |
| Charlie Banana USA, LLC | CEO | 2013–2020 | Built global baby brand; acquired by P&G |
| Procter & Gamble | Consultant | Jan 2020–Jun 2023 | Post-acquisition consulting |
| Winc Design Limited (Hong Kong) | CEO | 2007–2020 | Eco-friendly products, global cloth diapers |
| Apptastic Software Inc. | VP of Sales | Not specified | Toy/juvenile consumer growth leadership |
External Roles
| Company | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| None disclosed | — | — | No other public-company directorships disclosed in proxy biography |
Board Governance
- Independence: Board determined Wizenberg is independent under Nasdaq and Rule 10A-3; Board has a majority of independent directors .
- Committee assignments:
- Audit Committee member (added Jan 30, 2024); audit met 4 times in FY 2024 .
- Compensation Committee member (added Jan 30, 2024); compensation met 2 times in FY 2024 .
- Finance Subcommittee member (formed Jun 2024); subcommittee met 1 time in FY 2024 .
- Attendance: The Board met 15 times; all directors other than Michael Lebowitz attended >75% of Board meetings; all committee members attended >75% of their committees’ meetings (includes Wizenberg) .
- Board classification: If approved, Board expects Wizenberg to be designated Class I with an initial term expiring at the 2026 Annual Meeting .
| Committee | Role | Membership Start | Meetings in FY 2024 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audit Committee | Member | Jan 30, 2024 | 4 | Chair: Robert Weinstein; all members independent |
| Compensation Committee | Member | Jan 30, 2024 | 2 | Chair: Bruce T. Bernstein; consultant engaged March 2025 |
| Finance Subcommittee | Member | Jun 2024 formation | 1 | Focus on financing strategies |
Fixed Compensation
| Item (FY 2024) | Amount ($) |
|---|---|
| Fees Earned or Paid in Cash | 35,000 |
| RSU Awards | — |
| Option Awards (grant-date fair value) | 33,249 |
| All Other Compensation | — |
| Total | 68,249 |
| Director Compensation Program (Effective Dec 11, 2023) | Cash Amount ($) |
|---|---|
| Chairman of the Board annual cash retainer | 75,000 |
| Other non-employee Director annual cash retainer | 35,000 |
| Audit Committee Chair cash fee | 15,000 |
| Compensation Committee Chair cash fee | 10,000 |
| Investment Committee member cash fee | 10,000 |
The Compensation Committee engaged StreeterWyatt Analytics in January 2023 to evaluate director compensation and again in March 2025 to benchmark Board compensation against peers .
Performance Compensation
| Performance-based metrics tied to director compensation | Disclosure |
|---|---|
| Metrics (e.g., TSR, revenue, EBITDA) | None disclosed for directors; equity awards (options/RSUs) granted without stated performance metrics |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Other public-company boards (current/past 5 years) | None disclosed in proxy biography |
| Shared directorships with competitors/suppliers/customers | None disclosed |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Serial entrepreneur in consumer, wellness, and global distribution; founder of multiple brands including Charlie Banana; operated in 66 countries prior to P&G acquisition .
- Branding/manufacturing and retail channel growth expertise; experience in corporate wellness retreats .
- Board biographies emphasize business-building and brand strategy credentials .
Equity Ownership
| Metric (Record Date basis) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Common shares owned | 90,698 |
| Vested options exercisable within 60 days | 46,494 |
| Total beneficial ownership (shares) | 137,192 |
| Ownership as % of common shares outstanding | 2.36% |
| Total voting power | 1.50% |
| Shares pledged as collateral | Not disclosed; no related-party transactions reported |
Insider Trades
| Date | Transaction | Shares | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26, 2024 | Open-market purchase | 100 | Jul 22, 2024 (Form 4) |
| May 7, 2024 | Open-market purchase | 199 | Jul 22, 2024 (Form 4) |
Governance Assessment
- Independence and engagement: Independent director with active committee service (Audit, Compensation, Finance Subcommittee) and >75% attendance at Board and committees — supportive of Board effectiveness .
- Ownership alignment: Material personal stake (137,192 shares including 46,494 vested options; 2.36% of common) — positive “skin-in-the-game” signal in a micro-cap context .
- Compensation structure: Director pay is balanced between cash retainer ($35k) and equity via options ($33,249 grant-date value); use of independent consultant for Board pay suggests attention to governance practices .
- Conflicts/related-party exposure: Company reports no related-party transactions involving directors since the prior fiscal year — no apparent conflicts .
- Compliance note: Section 16(a) filing for small share purchases was delayed and filed July 22, 2024; minor process lapse to monitor but not a material red flag given prompt disclosure in proxy .
- Structural consideration: Proposed classified board would place Wizenberg in Class I (term to 2026); staggered terms can reduce immediate accountability to shareholders, warrant attention from governance-focused investors .