Beneficient Appoints Karen J. Wendel to Board of Directors
Rhea-AI Summary
Beneficient (BENF) has appointed Karen J. Wendel as an independent member of its Board of Directors effective November 21, 2024. Wendel, currently President and CEO of TrustChains, will serve on the Audit, Products and Related Party Transactions, and Enterprise Risk committees. She brings extensive experience in banking, technology M&A, cybersecurity, private equity, corporate governance, risk management, and blockchain/DeFi. With a background in Economics and International Relations, Wendel has served as CEO of four companies and has led major transformational projects across multiple industries, particularly in financial services and cybersecurity.
Positive
- Addition of board member with extensive experience in technology, cybersecurity, and financial services
- Strategic expertise in blockchain and DeFi space enhances company's digital capabilities
- Appointment strengthens corporate governance with experienced executive
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, BENF gained 7.95%, reflecting a notable positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
DALLAS, Nov. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Beneficient (Nasdaq: BENF) (“Ben” or the “Company”), a technology-enabled financial services holding company, today announced the appointment of Karen J. Wendel as an independent member of the Company’s Board of Directors as of November 21, 2024. In addition to being an independent director, she was appointed to serve on the Audit, Products and Related Party Transactions and Enterprise Risk committees of the Board.
Ms. Wendel is the President and CEO of TrustChains, a boutique cybersecurity advisory firm based in San Francisco. She is an experienced executive with strong skills in banking, technology M&A, cybersecurity, private equity, corporate governance, risk management, and the emerging blockchain and DeFi space. Her strategic expertise provides unique decision-making skills for board-level strategic and tactical requirements. She has held executive and board roles in US and global private and public companies.
“We have identified a need for a board director with experience in the digital space,” said Beneficient’s CEO and Chairman Brad Heppner. “Karen fits that role perfectly as well as having significant experience counseling public and private companies and has served as CEO of four separate companies, which has provided her insight on blockchain technology for cybersecurity, asset management and other contexts. We are very honored to welcome her to the Beneficient Board.”
Ms. Wendel received Bachelor of Science degrees in Economics and International Relations from Brigham Young University. She has led major transformational projects across multiple geographies and industry segments that range from transaction processing to global cybersecurity and identity platforms to emerging technologies in the insurance, healthcare, and pharmaceutical arenas. She has played critical roles in the development and deployment of regulatory strategies for both banks and banking infrastructure players. She has guided private equity firms and their portfolio companies in developing strategies for the financial services, cybersecurity, and identity management segments.
About Beneficient
Beneficient (Nasdaq: BENF) – Ben, for short – is on a mission to democratize the global alternative asset investment market by providing traditionally underserved investors − mid-to-high net worth individuals, small-to-midsized institutions and General Partners seeking exit options, anchor commitments and valued-added services for their funds − with solutions that could help them unlock the value in their alternative assets. Ben’s AltQuote™ tool provides customers with a range of potential exit options within minutes, while customers can log on to the AltAccess® portal to explore opportunities and receive proposals in a secure online environment.
Its subsidiary, Beneficient Fiduciary Financial, L.L.C., received its charter under the State of Kansas’ Technology-Enabled Fiduciary Financial Institution (TEFFI) Act and is subject to regulatory oversight by the Office of the State Bank Commissioner.
For more information, visit www.trustben.com or follow us on LinkedIn.
Investors
Contacts
Matt Kreps: 214-597-8200, mkreps@darrowir.com
Michael Wetherington: 214-284-1199, mwetherington@darrowir.com
Investor Relations: investors@beneficient.com
FAQ
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