John McAdam is the former President and CEO of F5, Inc., a company he led from July 2000 until December 2015. He has a degree in Computer Science from the University of Glasgow and a background in technology. Under his...

John McAdam is the former President and CEO of F5, Inc., a company he led from July 2000 until December 2015. He has a degree in Computer Science from the University of Glasgow and a background in technology. Under his leadership, F5 grew its annual revenue from $108.6 million in 2000 to nearly $2 billion in 2016. McAdam was pivotal in making strategic decisions that expanded the company into new markets, ultimately leading to its inclusion in the S&P 500. He has extensive experience in the tech industry, previously managing the web server sales division at IBM and serving as the President of Sequent Computer Systems. McAdam has also held directorships in other companies like Tableau Software and Nutanix. Notably, he announced his retirement just months before accepting the position again as CEO in 2015 after a short period without that role. His career is marked by a blend of technical understanding and business savvy, enabling him to significantly impact F5's growth trajectory and innovation.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other F5, Inc. CEOs

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John McAdam

Ex-CEO of F5, Inc.

Education

B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Glasgow, Scotland

Field of Expertise

Technology & Engineering - Technology

Sector of Economy

Technology

Born

January 1, 1951 - 74 years ago

CEO of F5, Inc. for

15 years 5 months (Jul 2000 - Dec 2015)

Previous Experience

General Manager of the Web server sales business at IBM

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of John McAdam

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Charles H. Robbins

CEO of Cisco Systems, Inc.

2022 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.39M

Bonus

$6.27M

Other

$78.05K

Total Holdings

$47.45M

Holdings

See how much did John McAdam make over time.

John McAdam has been actively trading shares of F5, Inc., with notable peaks in his trading history. In 2021, he recorded his highest trades, ranging from $4.72 million to $5.80 million. His trading patterns suggest an increasing confidence in the...

John McAdam has been actively trading shares of F5, Inc., with notable peaks in his trading history. In 2021, he recorded his highest trades, ranging from $4.72 million to $5.80 million. His trading patterns suggest an increasing confidence in the stock, especially as it entered new market landscapes. From mid-2019 to the end of 2020, he showed strong interest with estimated trades consistently around the $3 to $4 million mark each month. Investors watch his moves closely, as they reflect his enduring belief in the company's future. McAdam's wealth largely sits within F5's stock, indicating his commitment to the company he has shaped for many years. He has transitioned away from daily leadership yet remains tied to its performance through his holdings.

Mar 18, 2025

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shares

FFIV @ $264.83

N

shares

NTNX @ $70.18

Total Stock Sold

$92.77M

FFIV

$90.70M

788,445 FFIV shares

NTNX

$2.07M

45,000 NTNX shares

What if they kept their stock?

If John McAdam didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra FFIV788,445 shares worth $112.66M and NTNX45,000 shares worth $1.09M.
This is 22.62% and $20.99M more than what they got when they sold the stock.

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of John McAdam.

NTNX

$600.01K

NTNX at $40.00/share

Mar 20, 2019

Sale

NTNX

6,230 shares

NTNX

Dec 17, 2018

Received

NTNX

$681.37K

NTNX at $45.42/share

Dec 3, 2018

Sale

NTNX

$772.37K

NTNX at $51.49/share

Sep 10, 2018

Sale

FFIV

$1.76M

FFIV at $176.34/share

Jun 8, 2018

Sale

FFIV

$4.33M

FFIV at $173.24/share

May 10, 2018

Sale

FFIV

$3.61M

FFIV at $144.32/share

Feb 20, 2018

Sale

NTNX

7,794 shares

NTNX

Dec 18, 2017

Received

FFIV

$1.30M

FFIV at $130.17/share

May 10, 2017

Sale

FFIV

$3.06M

FFIV at $139.93/share

Feb 10, 2017

Sale

Compensation History

See how much did John McAdam make over time.

During his time at F5, John McAdam's compensation varied significantly based on the company's performance. In fiscal year 2015, he earned nearly $9.17 million, with a salary of $718K, a cash bonus of over $1.1 million, and significant stock compensation. His pay structure focused on linking his earnings with the company’s success, reflecting the philosophy of ensuring that executives are rewarded for performance that benefits shareholders. Compensation in prior years saw similar trends, with total earnings around $8.14M in 2014 and $8.25M in 2013. His earnings align closely with the company's financial goals, indicating that his leadership was well-compensated during successful fiscal periods.

Year

2015

Total Compensation

$3.53M

Salary

$718.39K

Board Justification

The compensation program is designed to link executive compensation to improvements in the Company’s financial performance and the creation of shareholder value, enabling the Company to attract, retain, and reward key executive officers who contribute to its long-term success.

Bonus

$1.12M

Board Justification

Cash bonus compensation based on contributions throughout the year, excluding base salary for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2015.

Other

$3.07K

Board Justification

Includes contributions to the 401(k) plan and tax gross ups due to imputed income from trips attended by Mr. McAdam.

Restricted Stock

$1.69M(14.03K RSU)

Board Justification

Vested shares from Continuing Performance Awards scheduled to vest in the third and fourth quarters of fiscal year 2015.

Performance Metrics

The Company achieved 98.2% of the annual revenue target and 99.6% of the annual EBITDA target.

Other F5, Inc. CEOs

Here are other CEOs of F5, Inc.

Francois Locoh-Donou

Ex-CEO of F5, Inc.

April 2017 - January 2022