Aaron Cooper took the reins as Interim CEO of Groupon on March 25, 2020, just as the pandemic began shaking up businesses worldwide. Prior to this position, he was deeply entrenched in the company's operations, serving as President of North...

Aaron Cooper took the reins as Interim CEO of Groupon on March 25, 2020, just as the pandemic began shaking up businesses worldwide. Prior to this position, he was deeply entrenched in the company's operations, serving as President of North America and even as Chief Marketing Officer where he honed the marketing strategies that drove growth. His journey at Groupon started back in 2010, so he’s seen a lot of ups and downs in this unique market. Interestingly, Cooper's pivot to CEO was unexpected, as he filled in temporarily after the previous CEO resigned. He reportedly received a base salary of $600,000 in 2020 along with performance bonuses totaling $600,000, reflecting the challenges the company faced amid COVID-19. He also had a substantial package that included restricted stock units (RSUs) worth $4 million, demonstrating the level of investment Groupon had in his leadership during tough times. After stepping down at the end of 2021, he parted ways with an impressive record and a wealth of experience behind him.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Groupon, Inc. CEOs

G

Aaron Cooper

CEO of Groupon, Inc.

Field of Expertise

Sales & Marketing - Marketing

Sector of Economy

Communication Services

CEO of Groupon, Inc. for

5 years 2 months (Mar 2020 - Present)

Previous Experience

President of North America at Groupon, Chief Marketing Officer, Head of Global Travel, head of the North America Goods category and head of the North America Local category at Groupon, Executive Vice President Marketing at optionsXpress, Group Vice President, Online Marketing at Orbitz Worldwide, Inc.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Aaron Cooper

Holdings

See how much did Aaron Cooper make over time.

While leading Groupon, Aaron Cooper held significant stock in the company, with a peak vesting of 200,000 RSUs and performance stock units (PSUs) reflecting the company's shifting fortunes. In 2020, his vested RSUs were with a market value reaching $4...

While leading Groupon, Aaron Cooper held significant stock in the company, with a peak vesting of 200,000 RSUs and performance stock units (PSUs) reflecting the company's shifting fortunes. In 2020, his vested RSUs were with a market value reaching $4 million, underlining the trust placed in his leadership at a time when Groupon was adapting to a new economic reality. He realized substantial gains as shares grew, and at one point, his total stock holdings were a major part of his wealth, illustrating how closely his interests aligned with the company's performance. Over the years, he navigated various ups and downs with the stock, ultimately parting with a substantial portfolio that was beneficial to him during his tenure.

No data yet.

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Aaron Cooper.

No insider trades found for this CEO.

Compensation History

See how much did Aaron Cooper make over time.

In 2020, Aaron Cooper's total compensation was around $5.5 million. This included a base salary of $600,000 and a guaranteed bonus equivalent to another $600,000 in response to the pandemic's impact on business. He was awarded over $4 million in stock-based compensation, which included 200,000 RSUs meant to retain talent during a period of transition for the company. His strategy was geared toward not just doing the job, but also aligning his success with that of the company and its employees. This approach made him a vital part of Groupon's strategy during a challenging year, with compensation structured to motivate and stabilize the leadership team.

Year

2020

Total Compensation

$2.84M

Salary

$600.00K

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy aims to attract and retain talented leaders while aligning compensation with company performance and shareholder interests.

Bonus

$600.00K

Board Justification

The guaranteed cash bonus was fixed at 100% of base salary and paid quarterly to promote continued service.

Other

$11.07K

Board Justification

Includes matching contributions under the 401(k) plan and parking expenses.

Restricted Stock

$1.63M(42.96K PSU)

Board Justification

The PSUs vested based on the achievement of performance metrics and were settled upon certification by the Compensation Committee.

Performance Metrics

Performance metrics included achieving a cash balance of $651 million by year-end 2020, which exceeded the target.

Other Groupon, Inc. CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Groupon, Inc.

Rich Williams

Ex-CEO of Groupon, Inc.

November 2015 - March 2020