Biography

Desiree Perez is the Chief Executive Officer of Roc Nation. Before becoming CEO, she served as Roc Nation's Chief Operating Officer from 2008 to 2019. As one of the organization's co-founders, Perez has worked alongside Jay-Z to build Roc Nation into the global entertainment company it is today. Throughout her tenure at the company, Perez has supported Roc Nation's roster of premier talent, including some of the biggest names in music, entertainment and sports. Perez brings a wealth of industry knowledge from decades of experience in the entertainment sector. She began her career managing nightclubs in New York City, through which she was introduced to JAY-Z. Ultimately forming a professional partnership with JAY-Z, Perez has collaborated with him over the decades since meeting to pursue various successful business endeavors, including Roc Nation.

Among her day-to-day responsibilities at Roc Nation, Perez continues to be a driving force behind coordinating and establishing unprecedented collaborations for the company and its clients. Perez successfully negotiated a global partnership between Roc Nation and Universal Music Group; a $200 million touring deal between JAY-Z and Live Nation; Robinson Canó's 10-year, $240 million player contract with the Seattle Mariners; and Rihanna's sponsorship deals with Samsung and Puma. She strategically guided the partnership between Roc Nation and National Football League (NFL) in 2019, solidifying Roc Nation as the NFL's official Live Music Entertainment Strategists to advise on and spearhead the selection of artists to perform at events like the annual Super Bowl Halftime Show. Roc Nation has since revitalized the anticipated yearly event, resulting in record-breaking halftime shows that showcase recurring and first-time performers, and historic viewership numbers.

Perez has garnered recognition on numerous occasions for her work at Roc Nation and impact in the entertainment industry. Regularly honored by Billboard Magazine, she was named on several of its lists: Sports and Music Power Players (2025); R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players (2021, 2023 and 2025); Touring Power Players (2024); and Power 100 Top 30 Executives (2023 and 2024). Perez is a two-time Variety500 Honoree (2023 and 2021), and was featured as one of Hollywood Reporter's Top 55 Most Powerful Latin Players in Film, TV and Music (2023) and Entrepreneur's 100 Women of Influence (2022). Perez was the first executive producer to win an Emmy Award for an Outstanding Variety Special (Live) in 2022. That same year, she received the Community Quarterback Award. Perez was the recipient of Billboard's Executive of the Year award at the 2019 Women in Music Awards and named to the Billboard Women in Music Hall of Fame in 2026.

Alongside her executive duties, Perez has executive produced a number of projects, including the Exposing Parchman (2023) documentary, which aired in 2023, and The Book Of HOV: A Tribute to JAY-Z exhibit at the Brooklyn Public Library. The exhibit, which was held in 2023 and won a Webby award the following year, paid tribute to JAY-Z's journey from childhood in Brooklyn's Marcy Projects to the globally celebrated figure he is today. She has also spearheaded Roc Nation initiatives with the Fashion Institute of Technology, remaining a driving figure at the intersection of fashion, music, and business. A humanitarian, Perez is actively involved in Roc Nation's philanthropic division, Team Roc, and its fight against social injustices. She serves as a board member of REFORM Alliance, an organization that supports initiatives for prison and probation reform, and sits on the advisory board of the United Justice Coalition.
- IMDb mini biography by: Bethany Klein