Desiree Perez is a co-founder of premier global entertainment and management company Roc Nation, along with musical and business driving force JAY-Z, Chairman; Jay Brown, Vice Chairman; Juan Perez, President of Roc Nation Sports; and Tyran “Ty Ty” Smith, President of A&R. Desiree currently serves as the organization’s CEO, a position she has held since 2019. Previously, Desiree functioned as the company’s Chief Operating Officer.
Desiree has been central to Roc Nation’s expansion beyond music into a full-scale entertainment organization. Passionate about Roc Nation’s clients, Desiree plays a vital role in helping members of the Roc Nation family grow their own nonprofits, encouraging them to make a meaningful impact through charitable endeavors.
Desiree is an innovator and strategic negotiator, executing multimillion-dollar brand, partnership, and endorsement deals for Roc Nation clients — including JAY-Z’s 10-year, $200 million touring contract with Live Nation. She has been at the helm of negotiations for Rihanna’s FENTY, Alicia Keys’ collaborations with Allstate and Hennessy Paradis, and J Balvin’s joint effort with NRGY by Revo. She was also instrumental in securing a long-standing partnership between Roc Nation and the National Football League (NFL), making Roc Nation the official Live Entertainment Strategists of the NFL and orchestrating events such as the Super Bowl halftime show. In 2022, Desiree won a Primetime Emmy Award in the Outstanding Variety Special (Live) category for a Super Bowl halftime show, one of the first executive producers to do so.
Before Roc Nation’s founding, Desiree harnessed 15 years of experience in live entertainment and nightclub ventures to launch luxury sports lounge The 40/40 Club with JAY-Z and Juan Perez in 2003. As the club’s Director of Operations, she has contributed to the evolution of The 40/40 Club as well as its expansion following the success of its flagship location in New York City.
Desiree’s numerous career accolades and recognitions span both business and philanthropy. In 2022, Desiree was named a Community Quarterback at United Way New York City’s Gridiron Gala for her extensive humanitarian efforts. In 2025, she was awarded the Harry Belafonte Social Justice Award by The Gathering for Justice for her advocacy work in addressing social and racial inequities in the U.S. She has been named to several annual lists published by Billboard commending her work in the music and sports industries, including Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players (2025); Billboard’s Sports & Music Power Players (2025); Billboard’s Power 100 (2024); and Billboard’s Touring Power Players (2024). Additionally, she was one of The Hollywood Reporter’s Most Powerful Latin Players in Film, TV, and Music in 2023 and one of Entrepreneur’s 100 Women of Influence in 2022.
In her charitable pursuits, Desiree employs her professional expertise to effect positive change within marginalized communities. She actively participates in the groundwork of Team Roc, Roc Nation’s social justice division, which is committed to activism, humanitarianism, and championing pivotal impact worldwide. Desiree is a founder and board member of REFORM Alliance, a criminal justice reform organization seeking to restructure parole and probation by advocating for changes in laws, systems, and culture, and establishing pathways to work and well-being. She also sits on the advisory board of United Justice Coalition (UJC), a nonprofit organization that promotes understanding around critical legal and social issues and the need for criminal justice reform.