Ajay Shah is a notable figure in the tech industry, having served as the CEO of SMART Global Holdings, Inc. from March 2018 to August 2020. With an MBA from a top business school, Ajay has a strong foundation in...

Ajay Shah is a notable figure in the tech industry, having served as the CEO of SMART Global Holdings, Inc. from March 2018 to August 2020. With an MBA from a top business school, Ajay has a strong foundation in management. He co-founded SMART Global Holdings and transitioned into the CEO role after being the Executive Chairman. One interesting point in his career is that all of his significant stock options were tied to company performance, which means he didn't earn cash bonuses. Instead, his compensation heavily relied on equity, aligning his interests with shareholders. In 2020, his total compensation was about $6.79 million, a significant portion coming from vested stock awards totaling around $4.48 million. Notably, he's made interesting moves in insider trading, with a peak valuation of his holdings reaching over $352 million in January 2021. However, that wealth fluctuated, showing how tied his success was to company's performance. After stepping down, Ajay agreed to act as a consultant, ensuring his ongoing involvement with the company he helped build.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other SMART Global Holdings, Inc. CEOs

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Ajay Shah

Ex-CEO of SMART Global Holdings, Inc.

Education

MBA from a top business school

Field of Expertise

Business & Management

Sector of Economy

Technology

Born

January 1, 1970 - 55 years ago

CEO of SMART Global Holdings, Inc. for

2 years 5 months (Mar 2018 - Aug 2020)

Previous Experience

Executive Chairman of the Board, SMART Global Holdings, Inc.; various leadership roles at other technology companies.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Ajay Shah

Holdings

See how much did Ajay Shah make over time.

Ajay Shah’s holdings in SMART Global Holdings have seen dramatic shifts throughout his involvement with the company. At his peak in January 2021, the value of his holdings soared to about $352.72 million, marking a significant achievement for him personally...

Ajay Shah’s holdings in SMART Global Holdings have seen dramatic shifts throughout his involvement with the company. At his peak in January 2021, the value of his holdings soared to about $352.72 million, marking a significant achievement for him personally and for the company. This wealth wasn't just a stroke of luck; it reflects how actively he managed and influenced the firm's performance as CEO. His holdings faced fluctuations, dropping to around $9.05 million by January 2023, indicating the volatility in business and stock performance over time. Shah's strategy relied on stock options and equity rather than cash bonuses, meaning his financial success was deeply linked to the company’s operations. As SMART Global continues to evolve, his past positions and stock performance illustrate a commitment to long-term growth.

Total Stock Sold

$4.97M

SGH

$4.97M

400,000 SGH shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Ajay Shah didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra SGH400,000 shares worth $4.98M.
This is 0.17% and $8.51K more than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

SGH

373,438 shares

SGH

Recent Charitable Transactions

SGH

4,657 shares

SGH

Jul 20, 2021

Charity

SGH

5,439 shares

SGH

Apr 20, 2021

Charity

SGH

5,234 shares

SGH

Jan 20, 2021

Charity

SGH

165,962 shares

SGH

Oct 20, 2020

Charity

SGH

5,427 shares

SGH

Jul 20, 2020

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Ajay Shah.

SGH

$1.34M

SGH at $53.79/share

Oct 29, 2021

Sale

SGH

$5.17M

SGH at $51.70/share

Oct 26, 2021

Sale

SGH

$1.16M

SGH at $46.57/share

Jul 30, 2021

Sale

SGH

$2.25M

SGH at $45.05/share

Jul 27, 2021

Sale

SGH

4,657 shares

SGH

Jul 20, 2021

Charity

SGH

4,657 shares

SGH

Jul 20, 2021

Charity

SGH

5,439 shares

SGH

Apr 20, 2021

Charity

SGH

5,439 shares

SGH

Apr 20, 2021

Charity

SGH

5,234 shares

SGH

Jan 20, 2021

Charity

SGH

5,234 shares

SGH

Jan 20, 2021

Charity

Compensation History

See how much did Ajay Shah make over time.

Ajay Shah's compensation at SMART Global Holdings was quite interesting. In fiscal 2020, he earned a total compensation of $6,796,624, which wasn’t typical in the sense that it included no cash bonuses. Instead, a considerable part—almost $4.48 million—came from vested stock alone. This compensation structure emphasized performance, as all his stock options were closely linked to the company's results and Shah's contributions. He didn’t just rely on a paycheck; he was invested in the company’s future right down to the stock price. His approach aligns executive compensation with shareholder interests, potentially leading to long-term success for both parties. The last two fiscal years showed total compensations of $6,151,904 and $16,102,933 respectively, where the majority stemmed from stock awards rather than standard salary, underscoring a heavy skew towards performance-driven pay. This structure is designed to keep leaders accountable and engaged with the company’s growth.

Year

2020

Total Compensation

$4.54M

Salary

$51.75K

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy emphasizes long-term performance through equity awards, aligning executive compensation with shareholder interests and company performance.

Bonus

$0.00

Board Justification

Mr. Shah did not participate in the cash incentive program for fiscal 2020.

Other

$2.18K

Board Justification

Includes health and welfare benefits, retirement contributions, and other perquisites.

Restricted Stock

$4.48M(180K RSAs)

Board Justification

180,000 time-based RSAs granted in May 2020, vesting over three years with 60,000 shares scheduled to vest on April 20, 2021 and the remainder vesting 30,000 shares every six months thereafter. In October 2020, all shares were accelerated and fully vested due to Mr. Shah's service and contributions.

Performance Metrics

Mr. Shah's compensation was primarily based on equity awards, with no cash incentives or significant base salary.

Other SMART Global Holdings, Inc. CEOs

Here are other CEOs of SMART Global Holdings, Inc.

Mark Adams

Ex-CEO of SMART Global Holdings, Inc.

August 2020 - June 2023