Desiree Perez
Roc Nation’s Chief Executive Officer and co-founder, Desiree Perez, is an entrepreneurial trailblazer and philanthropist. Working alongside Shawn “JAY-Z” Carter, Perez has been foundational to Roc Nation’s trajectory from a record label, music publishing, and artist and sports management agency to an entertainment industry powerhouse. Her passion for driving positive societal change helped inspire the creation of Roc Nation’s philanthropy division, Team Roc, which supports communities through education opportunities, emergency relief support, combating racial injustices, and more. As a United Justice Coalition (UJC) advisory board member, Perez has previously participated in UJC’s Annual Summit, where she brought together a diverse collective of victims’ families, activists, lawyers, and district attorneys with a shared goal of finding actionable remedies to combat systemic issues.
Through her work with Team Roc and the UJC, Perez is steadfast in her pursuit of amplifying awareness of social injustice issues and providing a platform for the underrepresented and often silenced. In 2023, she executive-produced "Exposing Parchman," a documentary series which aired on A&E and brought revelatory evidence of the life-threatening conditions and human rights violations in Parchman Prison to light. Furthering her commitment to social responsibility and dedication to advancing criminal justice reform, Perez maintains a seat on the board of REFORM Alliance, where she and fellow members of the organization fight for prison and probation reform.
Perez is an advocate of The Gathering for Justice, which works to influence policy change to address racial inequity among vulnerable communities while tackling juvenile and criminal justice reform. She has been actively involved with The Gathering, supporting its grassroots organizing efforts, including the 2020 March for Stolen Lives & Looted Dreams: #TheTakeBack in New York City. The march began at 110th Street and 8th Avenue in Harlem and concluded with a rally and concert in Washington Square Park, where participants gathered to demand action against injustices perpetrated by the New York Police Department. Perez is also a champion for the Terence Crutcher Foundation, an organization that seeks to advance policies focused on liberation for Black, Indigenous, and people of color. In 2021, the Terence Crutcher Foundation released a comprehensive report that analyzed inequalities in justice and economic mobility in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and proposed strategies for addressing these issues.
Beyond advocating for incarceration, parole, and justice reform, Perez invests her time and industry expertise in cultivating the next generation of artists and leaders by expanding access to higher education opportunities through academic initiatives. She led the launch of the Roc Nation School of Music, Sports & Entertainment at Long Island University in Brooklyn to bridge the college completion gap for students, regardless of socioeconomic factors, by providing scholarships to alleviate financial burden and allow them to continue their education. In 2022, Perez’s philanthropic contributions were honored with the Community Quarterback Award at United Way New York’s 29th Annual Gridiron Gala.
Carrying the same tenacity into her career pursuits, Perez’s professional undertakings have greatly impacted the entertainment industry, particularly through her mission to empower women and minorities by increasing representation and leading with inclusivity. She has played a part in every significant deal at Roc Nation, brokering major partnerships and launching historic brand collaborations. In recognition of her unwavering efforts, Perez was named Executive of the Year at the 2019 Billboard Women in Music Awards.
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