Neil Bush
About Neil Bush
Independent director of Zeo Energy Corp. (ZEO), age 70, nominated for re‑election at the August 5, 2025 annual meeting; serves as Chair of the Compensation Committee and is deemed independent under Nasdaq rules . Biographical disclosure highlights long-standing advisory and board roles across multiple organizations via Neil Bush Global Advisors (since 1998) and other entities; the Board cites his “extensive investment experience in the energy industry” as a qualification for service .
Past Roles
- The company did not disclose specific prior roles with end dates distinct from his ongoing appointments; see External Roles for current/ongoing positions and board service .
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FutureTech II Acquisition Corp. | Director | Since Feb 2022 | SPAC/Acquisition vehicle per company bio |
| Hong Kong Finance Investment Holding Group | Director | Since 2012 | Board service |
| CIIC | Co‑Chairman | Since 2006 | Executive leadership role |
| CP Group | Adviser | Since 2015 | Advisory role |
| Asia & America Consultants | Partner | Since Mar 2016 | Partnership role |
| Singhaiyi | Chairman | Since Apr 2013 | Chair role |
| Greffex, Inc. | Director | Since Jun 2020 | Board service |
| Points of Light Foundation | Director | Not dated | Board service |
| Rebound International, LLC | Director | Appointed early 2022 | Board service |
| Neil Bush Global Advisors, LLC | Sole Member | Since Jan 1998 | Advisory firm principal |
Board Governance
- Independence: The Board determined Neil Bush is independent under Nasdaq rules .
- Committee assignments: Compensation Committee (Chair: Neil Bush; members Benson, Jacobs) .
- Audit Committee: Members Allen (Chair/financial expert), Benson, Jacobs .
- Attendance: Each director attended at least 75% of Board and committee meetings in FY2024 .
- Meeting cadence: Board met 4 times; Compensation Committee met 1 time; Audit Committee met 6 times (committee section also notes 7 meetings) in FY2024 .
| Committee | Role | Members | FY2024 Meetings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compensation | Chair | Neil Bush (Chair), James P. Benson, Mark M. Jacobs | 1 meeting |
| Audit | Member | Abigail M. Allen (Chair, financial expert), James P. Benson, Mark M. Jacobs | 6 (overview) / 7 (committee report) meetings |
Fixed Compensation
| Component (Director) | Amount | Terms/Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $0 | 2024 | “Directors did not receive any other fees” (no cash fees) |
| Equity grant (Class A shares) | 10,000 shares | Granted Sep 13, 2024 | Grant-date value $1.75/share; total $17,500 |
| Committee chair/member fees | Not disclosed | 2024 | No additional fees disclosed |
| Meeting fees | Not disclosed | 2024 | Not disclosed |
| Options outstanding | None | As of Dec 31, 2024 | No option awards outstanding |
| Unvested stock awards | None | As of Dec 31, 2024 | No unvested stock awards |
Performance Compensation
| Performance metric | Target/Design | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Director equity tied to performance (PSUs/TSR/EBITDA) | Not disclosed for directors | No performance-conditioned director metrics disclosed |
| Clawback policy | All awards subject to clawback under any written policy or by law | Plan-level clawback applies |
| Non-employee director compensation limits | Annual cap combining cash + fair value of awards per compensation policy | Board may make exceptions (director does not vote on own exception) |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Relationship to ZEO | Potential interlock |
|---|---|---|
| FutureTech II Acquisition Corp., Hong Kong Finance Investment Holding Group, Singhaiyi, Greffex, Points of Light, Rebound Intl., CIIC, CP Group, Asia & America Consultants | External roles held by Neil Bush (see External Roles) | No specific transactions or shared governance with ZEO disclosed; no direct related-party ties noted |
| LHX Intermediate, LLC | Significant ZEO shareholder with board designee rights via Subscription Agreement/Voting Agreement | ZEO agreed to appoint an LHX-designated director; designee not identified; highlights concentrated investor influence risk generally (not tied to Bush) |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Board cites Bush’s extensive investment experience in the energy industry as a qualification to serve on ZEO’s board .
- Compensation Committee leadership indicates governance experience with executive/director pay structures .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Class A Shares | % Class A | Class V Shares | % Class V | % Voting Power |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neil Bush | 10,000 | <1% | — | — | <1% |
Insider Trades and Compliance
| Item | Disclosure |
|---|---|
| Section 16(a) compliance | Company reported late Form 3 filings for LHX Intermediate (Dec 26, 2024), Cannon Holbrook (Nov 12, 2024), ESGEN LLC (Feb 8, 2024); Neil Bush not listed among late filers |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent status; chairing Compensation Committee; board-affirmed qualifications in energy investing; directors met ≥75% attendance; Audit Committee led by a financial expert and met frequently (6–7 times) in FY2024 .
- Alignment: Director pay in 2024 was equity-only ($17,500 grant), with no cash fees, promoting ownership alignment; no options or unvested awards outstanding as of year-end 2024 .
- Red flags and watch items:
- Compensation Committee only met once in FY2024, which could indicate limited engagement on pay matters during a transformative year; monitor FY2025 cadence .
- Concentrated shareholder influence: LHX’s significant position and board designee rights introduce governance complexity; ensure robust independence in oversight of related approvals (e.g., Nasdaq 20% Rule proposal) .
- Related-party exposure at the company level (CEO-linked leasing entities via White Horse Energy) underscores need for vigilant independent oversight; not tied to Bush individually but relevant to Compensation/Audit Committee governance .
- Family relationship (CEO and CSO) is a general governance risk area requiring strong independent board leadership and processes .