Desiree Perez is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Roc Nation and an esteemed executive producer. She has built an illustrious career in the entertainment industry, beginning her tenure as a nightclub manager in New York City and now guiding one of the world's most prominent, multifaceted entertainment organizations. Perez holds numerous executive producer credits.
Desiree founded Roc Nation alongside long-time friend and business partner JAY-Z, Chairman; Jay Brown, Vice Chairman; Juan Perez, President of Roc Nation Sports; and Tyran "Ty Ty" Smith, President of A&R, in 2008. Initially serving as its Chief Operating Officer, Desiree's impassioned belief in Roc Nation's mission and her commitment to clients' success have guided the company to the forefront of the entertainment industry. Her leadership and hands-on involvement in day-to-day operations have enabled Roc Nation to expand its capabilities, build global brands, and create enduring careers for its renowned clientele. Known for her strategic negotiation skills, Desiree has been a key component in procuring nearly every deal at Roc Nation — including Rihanna's sponsorships with Samsung and Puma and JAY-Z's 10-year, $200 million touring contract with Live Nation. In 2019, the same year she became CEO, Desiree played a crucial role in establishing Roc Nation as the official Live Music Entertainment Strategists for the National Football League (NFL).
In the years since securing that partnership, which began at the start of the NFL's 100th season, Desiree has assisted in selecting musical acts and coordinating celebrated Super Bowl halftime performances that amassed historic viewership ratings. The Pepsi Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show Starring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and 50 Cent, in 2022, earned an Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Live), making Desiree the first executive producer to win in that category. She then lent her expertise to several other projects, becoming an executive producer of "The Book of HOV: A Tribute to Jay-Z" exhibit in 2023 at the Brooklyn Public Library, which subsequently won a Webby award in 2024, and the documentary "Megan Thee Stallion: In Her Own Words."
Utilizing her platform to amplify her philanthropic endeavors, Desiree has brought attention to social justice causes by executive-producing documentaries such as "Exposing Parchman," "Free Meek," "Time: The Kalief Browder Story," and "Rest in Power: The Trayvon Martin Story." Through her work within Team Roc, the internal advocacy segment of Roc Nation, and her board memberships with REFORM Alliance and the United Justice Coalition, Desiree continuously pursues opportunities to make a positive societal impact and to rectify injustices. United Way New York recognized Desiree's decades of humanitarian contributions at their 29th Annual Gridiron Gala in 2022, where she was honored as the Community Quarterback Award recipient, as well as in 2025, when she received the Harry Belafonte Social Justice Award during The Gathering for Justice's 20th Anniversary Gala.
Desiree's professional accomplishments have been commended across the industry and by reputable publications. In 2019, she was named Executive of the Year at the Billboard Women in Music Awards for her exceptional leadership at Roc Nation. She was included on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players list in 2021, 2023, and 2025; its Music & Sports Power Players roundup in 2025; the Power 100 Top Executives list in 2023 and 2024; and the Touring Power Players list in 2024. Desiree is a two-time Variety500 Honoree, first in 2021 and again in 2023. She was featured on Entrepreneur's 100 Women of Influence in 2022 and on The Hollywood Reporter's Top 55 Most Powerful Latin Players in Film, TV and Music in 2023.
