Hikmet Ersek served as the President and CEO of Western Union from September 2010 until June 2022. During his time, he oversaw significant transformations in the company, navigating challenges such as the impact of COVID-19 on global finance. He joined...

Hikmet Ersek served as the President and CEO of Western Union from September 2010 until June 2022. During his time, he oversaw significant transformations in the company, navigating challenges such as the impact of COVID-19 on global finance. He joined Western Union in 1999 and continually climbed the ranks. Before becoming CEO, he held various leadership positions, including Executive Vice President for Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia Pacific. His career began at GE Capital, focusing on European payment systems. In 2021, after retiring, he continued to support the company as a Special Advisor, highlighting his deep commitment even beyond his primary role. Interestingly, he was eligible for special benefits due to his long tenure, including excise tax gross-up payments, a rare advantage for leaders in the company. His leadership style was centered on aligning executive compensation with performance, aiming to attract and retain top talent while emphasizing shareholder interests.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Western Union CEOs

T

Hikmet Ersek

Ex-CEO of Western Union

Education

N/A

Field of Expertise

Business & Management

Sector of Economy

Financial Services

Born

January 1, 1961 - 64 years ago

CEO of Western Union for

11 years 9 months (Sep 2010 - Jun 2022)

Previous Experience

Various positions at Western Union since 1999

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Hikmet Ersek

P

Alex Chriss

CEO of PayPal Holdings, Inc.

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$302.89K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$311.84K

Total Holdings

$11.94M

Holdings

See how much did Hikmet Ersek make over time.

Throughout his career, Hikmet Ersek made significant investments in Western Union's stock. At his peak in 2019, his compensation was reported at nearly $10.1 million, consisting of salary, bonuses, and stock options. He had substantial vested stock in the company,...

Throughout his career, Hikmet Ersek made significant investments in Western Union's stock. At his peak in 2019, his compensation was reported at nearly $10.1 million, consisting of salary, bonuses, and stock options. He had substantial vested stock in the company, reflecting his strong belief in its mission and future. For example, he held around 397,052 shares in performance-based stock units that were evaluated based on the company's revenue and operational gains over set periods. His transition from active leadership to advisory roles speaks to his lasting investment in the company's vision. After his retirement in 2021, he maintained a stake in the company while supporting its strategic direction during a transitional phase under new management.

Mar 18, 2025

V

shares

VOYA @ $67.71

W

shares

WU @ $10.76

Total Stock Sold

$19.05M

WU

$19.05M

878,968 WU shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Hikmet Ersek didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra WU878,968 shares worth $20.66M.
This is 8.44% and $1.61M more than what they got when they sold the stock.

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Hikmet Ersek.

WU

$5.59M

WU at $23.91/share

Feb 19, 2021

Sale

WU

156,800 shares

WU

Feb 22, 2021

Received

WU

34,296 shares

WU

Feb 19, 2021

Received

WU

292,902 shares

WU

Feb 21, 2020

Received

WU

30,944 shares

WU

Feb 20, 2020

Received

WU

39,706 shares

WU

Feb 21, 2019

Received

WU

180,100 shares

WU

Feb 20, 2019

Received

WU

34,844 shares

WU

Feb 22, 2018

Received

WU

212,543 shares

WU

Feb 19, 2018

Received

WU

283,311 shares

WU

Feb 20, 2017

Received

Compensation History

See how much did Hikmet Ersek make over time.

During his time as CEO, Ersek’s compensation fluctuated based on company performance. In 2019, he received a total compensation of about $10.1 million, with a salary of $1 million and substantial bonuses tied to the company's performance. Notably, his compensation included a strong emphasis on stock awards to align his interests with shareholders', which is critical in executive compensation philosophy. The years leading up to his retirement saw varied performance, particularly with adjustments made during the COVID-19 pandemic. In his final year as CEO, compensation dropped significantly to only $1,000, reflecting that he was not active in the role after December 2021. His period as an executive is indicative of a long-term commitment to aligning executive pay with company performance, a hallmark of his leadership.

Year

2022

Total Compensation

$1.00K

Salary

$1.00K

Board Justification

The company aims to align executive compensation with performance and shareholder interests, focusing on attracting and retaining top talent while rewarding performance.

Bonus

$0.00

Board Justification

No annual incentive payout was reported for 2022 as Mr. Ersek was not the CEO during the entire year.

Other

$0.00

Board Justification

No additional compensation was reported for Mr. Ersek in 2022 as he was not an active executive during the year.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 RSU)

Board Justification

No stock awards were vested in 2022 as Mr. Ersek retired in December 2021 and did not receive new grants in 2022.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for executive compensation are based on financial performance goals, including revenue growth and operating margin.

Other Western Union CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Western Union

Christina Gold

Ex-CEO of Western Union

September 2009 - September 2010

Raj Agrawal

Ex-CEO of Western Union

June 2022 - August 2022