Desiree Perez

Desiree Perez is the Chief Executive Officer of Roc Nation, which she co-founded in 2008 with business mogul and prolific hip-hop artist JAŸ-Z, Chairman of Roc Nation; Jay Brown, Vice Chairman; Juan Perez, President of Roc Nation Sports; and Tyran "Ty Ty" Smith, President of A&R. In less than two decades, Roc Nation has transformed from a record label into a globally revered, full-service entertainment company with a client roster of highly acclaimed individuals. Roc Nation provides more than standard representation for elite athletes, recording artists, songwriters, and producers — including Rihanna, Alicia Keys, Lil Uzi Vert, Christina Aguilera, Rakim Mayers (A$AP Rocky), Megan Thee Stallion, and DJ Khaled. Guided by the expertise of its leadership team and Desiree’s core belief in the company and its clients, Roc Nation continues to set the precedent across its many facets — music and sports management, strategic collaborations and brand development, touring, publishing, distribution, and more. Desiree, who served as Chief Operating Officer for eleven years before stepping into the role of CEO, is credited with her innate ability to negotiate historic partnerships for Roc Nation. She executed a 10-year, $200 million touring contract for JAY-Z with Live Nation Entertainment, Inc., and she was integral in securing a contract with the National Football League (NFL), officially establishing Roc Nation as the NFL’s Live Music Entertainment Strategists in 2019. In 2022, Desiree became the first executive producer to win a Primetime Emmy Award in the Outstanding Variety Special (Live) category for the Roc Nation-devised Super Bowl Halftime Show that featured Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar, Eminem, among others. A determined changemaker and industry disruptor, Desiree’s accomplished career has been celebrated with multiple awards and accolades. In 2025, she was included on two of Billboard’s annual lists — Sports and Music Power Players and R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players. Desiree made Billboard’s Power 100 Top Executives list in 2024 and 2023, and was named one of the Top 55 Most Powerful Latin Players in Film, TV and Music by The Hollywood Reporter in 2023. Desiree was featured on Entrepreneur’s 2022 list of 100 Women of Influence and was awarded Executive of the Year during Billboard’s Women in Music Awards in 2019. Desiree demonstrates the same passion and moral principles in her philanthropy as she does in her professional work. She dedicates her time to creating lasting, positive impacts on underserved communities and spearheading opportunities to advance criminal justice reform. Desiree is heavily involved in Roc Nation’s activism and humanitarian initiatives through its internal division, Team Roc, and she maintains board memberships with REFORM Alliance and the United Justice Coalition. Desiree was the recipient of The Gathering for Justice’s Harry Belafonte Social Justice Award in 2025 and accepted the Community Quarterback Award from United Way of New York City at their 29th Annual Gridiron Gala.