Charles Meyers has been the CEO of Equinix, Inc. since September 2018. He has a solid background in the technology sector, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Colorado and an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. Before becoming CEO, he served in different roles at Equinix, such as Chief Operating Officer, where he helped shape the company's strategies and services. Interestingly, Meyers worked at VeriSign and Level 3 Communications prior to joining Equinix in 2010. His leadership style is rooted in a pay-for-performance philosophy, which aligns executive compensation with company success. In terms of financial results, he faced challenges in 2022, not receiving any bonuses or stock awards due to unmet performance metrics. However, in 2021, his total compensation reached nearly $24 million, showcasing how incentives can change based on results. Charles also regularly engaged in insider trading, peaking at $14 million in stock sales in early 2022. Under his direction, Equinix has continued to expand its global footprint as a leader in data services, adapting to customer needs in a fast-evolving digital landscape. This adaptability is key, especially with his company about to transition from his leadership as he prepares to take on an Executive Chairman role by mid-2024, while a new CEO steps in to continue leading the firm into the future.

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Charles Meyers

CEO of Equinix, Inc.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Colorado; MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management

Field of Expertise

Technology & Engineering - Technology

Sector of Economy

Real Estate

Born

November 16, 1966 - 58 years ago

CEO of Equinix, Inc. for

6 years 6 months (Sep 2018 - Present)

Previous Experience

Chief Operating Officer of Equinix (2013-2017); President, Equinix Americas (2010-2013); Group President of Messaging and Mobile Media at VeriSign (2006-2010)

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Charles Meyers

Marshall A. Loeb

CEO of EastGroup Properties

2022 Compensation

Stock

$2.96M

Salary

$745.00K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$337.65K

Total Holdings

$25.88M

Andrew P. Power

CEO of Digital Realty

2023 Compensation

Stock

$3.40M

Salary

$802.31K

Bonus

$1.81M

Other

$790.92K

Total Holdings

$28.84M

Thomas A. Bartlett

CEO of American Tower

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.10M

Bonus

$3.37M

Other

$43.02K

Total Holdings

$61.60M

Steven H. Collis

CEO of Cencora

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.40M

Bonus

$3.23M

Other

$379.52K

Total Holdings

$127.69M

Hamid R. Moghadam

CEO of Prologis

2023 Compensation

Stock

$41.06M

Salary

$1.00

Bonus

$1.91M

Other

$12.00K

Total Holdings

$125.21M

Howard Schwimmer

Founder and CEO of Rexford Industrial Realty

2021 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$750.00K

Bonus

$1.88M

Other

$16.91K

Total Holdings

$2.05M

Holdings

See how much did Charles Meyers make over time.

Charles Meyers has been active in trading Equinix shares, with notable sales over the years reflecting significant changes in his holdings. His trading peaked in 2022, when he sold shares worth around $14 million in a few months. This followed a trend where he steadily increased his trades in previous years, with regular sales from 2019 through 2023. At the height of his trading activity in 2020, his sales reached approximately $8 million per month. Over the years, Meyers strategically sold his stake, which fluctuated based on market conditions and his compensation structure. This proactive trading behavior shows his hands-on approach to managing his wealth as the tech landscape shifts around him. Currently, his holdings have seen considerable variety, but at times reflect as much as 80% of his total wealth, emphasizing the risk and reward dynamic typical in executive positions like his.

Total Stock Sold

$156.62M

EQIX

$156.62M

284,218 EQIX shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Charles Meyers didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra EQIX284,218 shares worth $195.24M.
This is 24.66% and $38.62M more than what they got when they sold the stock.

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Charles Meyers.

EQIX

$3.31M

EQIX at $930.40/share

Feb 18, 2025

Sale

EQIX

$3.90M

EQIX at $920.14/share

Jan 17, 2025

Sale

EQIX

$5.26M

EQIX at $908.38/share

Jan 15, 2025

Sale

EQIX

$5.13M

EQIX at $823.36/share

Sep 4, 2024

Sale

FSLY

26,666 shares

FSLY

Jun 12, 2024

Received

EQIX

$1.59M

EQIX at $904.14/share

Mar 6, 2024

Sale

EQIX

$2.61M

EQIX at $865.02/share

Feb 15, 2024

Sale

EQIX

$1.76M

EQIX at $831.90/share

Feb 12, 2024

Sale

EQIX

$6.92M

EQIX at $794.12/share

Jan 18, 2024

Sale

EQIX

$5.75M

EQIX at $802.13/share

Jan 16, 2024

Sale

Compensation History

See how much did Charles Meyers make over time.

In 2022, Charles Meyers earned a total compensation package worth about $22.2 million. His base salary remained constant at $1.05 million. However, there were no bonuses or vested stock awards due to performance metrics not being met. This highlights the challenging nature of his role, as compensation is linked directly to the company's success. The previous year, in 2021, he saw a more lucrative outcome, totaling nearly $24 million, which included a substantial $1.575 million bonus and significant stock awards based on performance metrics. The year before, in 2020, his total compensation was around $25 million, showcasing a progressive increase in his earnings based on achieving specific financial targets. Throughout his time at Equinix, his compensation structure has emphasized aligning his incentives with the company’s overall performance, which is crucial for retaining top talent and fostering growth in a competitive market. It’s this emphasis on performance-based rewards that structures his career and reflects in Equinix’s overall strategy.

Year

2022

Total Compensation

$1.14M

Salary

$1.05M

Board Justification

Equinix's compensation philosophy emphasizes pay-for-performance, aligning executive compensation with the company's performance and strategic objectives, while ensuring competitive total rewards to attract and retain top talent.

Bonus

$0.00

Board Justification

No bonus was awarded for 2022 as the performance metrics were not met.

Other

$86.68K

Board Justification

Other compensation includes matching contributions to the 401(k) plan and tax reimbursements related to the annual sales reward trip.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 RSU)

Board Justification

No stock awards vested in 2022 as all stock awards were performance-based and did not meet the required performance metrics.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for 2022 included revenue growth and AFFO per share, which were not achieved, resulting in no bonuses or stock awards being granted.

Other Equinix, Inc. CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Equinix, Inc.

Peter Van Camp

Ex-CEO of Equinix, Inc.

January 2018 - September 2018