About this podcast
In the style of ESPN, The Proxy Countdown is an American pre-game show broadcast by Free Float as part of the company's coverage of the the executives and directors who control the corporate world. The show spotlights important CEO transitions, features contentious boardroom battles, and highlights shareholder votes at the alternative democracy of annual corporate shareholder meetings. Because unlike athletes, investors can get in the game.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 79 episodes
- The new SEC proposal rules · 47 minA very special Free Float Media crossover between Shareholder Primacy, Business Pants, and Proxy Countdown to discuss the SEC proposed recission of 14a-8
- CEO Hotseats, plus Cracker Barrel’s CEO leaves and the SEC goes after activists · 51 minTrade Wire Top Stories: 127 Filings since June 26th The headlines New CARPENTER TECHNOLOGY CEO/director Brian J. Malloy passed away just three weeks after he became CEO: former…
- Proxy Season Crossover · 1 h 20 minWhat are the overall results from AGMs in 2026? How did companies and shareholders do in AGM votes? Shareholder proposals Many fewer E&S Same or slightly more corp gov Voting…
- Director vote gaps, plus manipulating pay at Costar and “social independence” at Veeva · 51 minTrade Wire Top Stories: 130 Filings since June 18th The headlines DOMINOS PIZZA: CEO Russell J. Weiner resigning, will become Executive Chair; Executive Chair David A. Brandon…
- Declassify Lululemon, plus anti-ESG losses and big dumb payouts · 47 minLead independent directors continue to be CEOs-in-training Lachlan Murdoch give himself more money but promises he had nothing to do with it Investors hate ONE company’s pay…
- Board scenario models at Walmart, plus Amgen won’t move your pianoThis is Proxy Countdown. Welcome to the big show for the week of May 25, 2026 alongside my tag team partner Matt Moscardi. I'm Damion Rallis. On today’s countdown: BP Ousts a…
- Business Roundtable Boards, plus Victoria’s Secret and vote roundupsProof that Berkshire Hathaway has always been fake frugal Companies following their own rules Victoria’s Secret rejects a Brett Blundy A wrap-up of 150 meeting results over the…
- Aflac’s Atlanta crew, plus vote avoidance at AIG and Ball Corp’s vote prediction · 50 minTrade Wire Top Stories: Filings since April 24 The headlines AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL GROUP, INC. (AIG) appointed Eric Andersen CEO/director, effective June 1, 2026, CEO Peter…
- Blame at Wells Fargo’s AGM, plus Ingles governance joke, Cook out, Texas reject · 52 minThis is Proxy Countdown. Welcome to the big show for the week of April 20, 2026 alongside my tag team partner Matt Moscardi. I'm Damion Rallis. On today’s countdown: Tim Cook…
- Johnson & Johnson’s big swing. Plus, DOW’s new CEO, Snap layoffs, Meta man board · 58 minA 100% increase in black female CEOs at Fortune 500 companies The wild wild west of CFO transitions Snap’s AI-branded mismanagement umbrella Shareholder Proposals are becoming…
- Adobe’s succession vote, plus Paramount’s whistleblower, BP’s new CEO, AI’s proxy tilt · 51 minTrade Wire - BUY/SELL TOP STORIES proxy countdown_trade wire_2025 - Google Sheets: 44 Filings since March 31 THE HEADLINES Jeff Shell, president and board director at Paramount…
- Vote with data top list, plus equity awards, ballooning pay, and activists like dudes · 48 minTrade Wire - BUY/SELL Top Stories: proxy countdown_trade wire_2025 - Google Sheets 95 Filings since March 27 The headlines: Air Canada CEO will retire this year after his…
- Live from CII Spring Conference 2026: Bertram, sausage sandwiches, and Starbucks · 43 minThanks to Adam, Felix and the Tallen AV team. Thanks to the Council of Institutional Investors for having us, and hopefully we alienated just enough people to get invited back…
- Vanguard’s fossil fuel settlement, plus early bonus season and more companies down to 2F · 42 minTrade Wire - BUY/SELL Top Stories: proxy countdown_trade wire_2025 - Google Sheets 145 Filings since Feb 5 The headlines: Epstein fallout GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INC (GS) Kathryn H…
- Read the fine print! Plus, Meta mines for Trump friendlies, McRitchie is the only winner, and governance news · 45 minTrade Wire - BUY/SELL Top Stories: proxy countdown_trade wire_2025 - Google Sheets 128 filings The headlines: PayPal stole HP’s CEO by promoting Chair Enrique Lores to CEO…
- Paramount’s dual class board is a warning sign for merger, plus CEO retention bonanza · 41 minTrade Wire - BUY/SELL Top Stories: proxy countdown_trade wire_2025 - Google Sheets Dumb pay Xmas week pay dump: CrowdStrike performance-based equity award granted to CEO George…
- 2026 Predictions with Ann Lipton and Mike Levin of the Shareholder Primacy podcast · Episode 12025 REVIEW FROM MIKE LEVIN: Big proxy contests: PHX-Elliott Significant situations: PEP-Elliott TSLA AGM SEC rules on shareholder proposals Proxy advisor pressure Delaware…
- SEC pushes voting against directors, plus Novo Nordisk and executive shifts at Walmart · 50 minTrade Wire - BUY/SELL Top Stories: proxy countdown_trade wire_2025 - Google Sheets Walmart Inc. (WMT) C. Douglas McMillon resigning; John R. Furner replacing C. Douglas McMillon…
- Zombies, krakens, mummies, and the monster mash of horrifying directors · 39 minThis is Proxy Countdown. Welcome to the big show for the week of November 3, 2025 alongside my tag team partner Matt Moscardi. I'm Damion Rallis. On today’s countdown: Some…
- Surveys: directors want you to vote them out, plus a vote out at John Wiley and female replacement theory · 54 minThe silent female retreat The not-so-secret power of the lead independent director An aggressive activist atmosphere is heating up A college professor in a bow tie gets voted out…
