Jonathan J. Judge was the CEO of Paychex from 2004 until 2010. He took the reins after founder B. Thomas Golisano stepped down. Judge brought a wealth of experience from his previous roles, notably as the CEO of Crystal Decisions...

Jonathan J. Judge was the CEO of Paychex from 2004 until 2010. He took the reins after founder B. Thomas Golisano stepped down. Judge brought a wealth of experience from his previous roles, notably as the CEO of Crystal Decisions and General Manager at IBM’s Personal Computing Division. Under his leadership, Paychex saw significant growth in service revenue and operating income, metrics tied to his compensation. His pay varied, with notable highs like $4.6 million in 2008 due to performance bonuses and stock, but it took a hit in 2010 following his resignation, which came with a $1.9 million severance. He was known for his performance-based pay structure, aligning executive incentives with the company’s success. During his time, Paychex’s market cap grew impressively, peaking at around $4.9 billion in 2024, showcasing the strong foundation he helped establish.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Paychex CEOs

P

Jonathan J. Judge

Ex-CEO of Paychex

Education

N/A

Field of Expertise

Business & Management

Sector of Economy

Industrials

Born

September 16, 1954 - 70 years ago

CEO of Paychex for

5 years 9 months (Oct 2004 - Jul 2010)

Previous Experience

Former President and CEO of Crystal Decisions, Inc.; General Manager of IBM's Personal Computing Division

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Jonathan J. Judge

B

Timothy C. Gokey

CEO of Broadridge Financial Solutions

2022 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$962.50K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$54.35K

Total Holdings

$39.30M

A

Carlos A. Rodriguez

CEO of Automatic Data Processing, Inc.

2022 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.16M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$421.82K

Total Holdings

$17.78M

T

Philippe Krakowsky

CEO of The Interpublic Group of Companies

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.50M

Bonus

$1.68M

Other

$184.01K

Total Holdings

$14.14M

B

Horacio Rozanski

CEO of Booz Allen Hamilton

2023 Compensation

Stock

$1.50M

Salary

$1.20M

Bonus

$500.00K

Other

$200.00K

Total Holdings

$70.96M

I

E. Scott Santi

CEO of Illinois Tool Works

2022 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.40M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$70.26M

M

Daniel S. Glaser

CEO of Marsh & McLennan Companies

2023 Compensation

Stock

$5.78M

Salary

$1.40M

Bonus

$6.00M

Other

$329.85K

Total Holdings

$36.36M

Holdings

See how much did Jonathan J. Judge make over time.

Jonathan Judge often had significant equity holdings in Paychex, especially during the peak years of his tenure. His net worth was largely tied to stock options and restricted shares he was granted as part of his compensation. At one point,...

Jonathan Judge often had significant equity holdings in Paychex, especially during the peak years of his tenure. His net worth was largely tied to stock options and restricted shares he was granted as part of his compensation. At one point, his holdings were valued at around $3.19 billion, reflecting a vibrant market for the company’s stock. However, this value fluctuated through the years, especially during economic shifts. By the time he resigned, the company's market cap had grown substantially, but his personal share value faced declines due to a complex compensation structure and market conditions, peaking again after his departure.

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Jonathan J. Judge.

No insider trades found for this CEO.

Compensation History

See how much did Jonathan J. Judge make over time.

Throughout his career as CEO of Paychex, Jonathan Judge's compensation reflected his performance and the company's success. In 2010, he earned about $4.7 million, which included a significant severance package due to his resignation. His base salary began at $800,000 in 2004 and climbed to around $915,000 by the end of his run. His bonuses were tied to operational metrics, with substantial payouts in years where the company exceeded revenue targets. For instance, in 2008, Judge earned over $1.05 million in bonuses alone, based on achieving performance metrics. This structured approach aimed to keep the leadership aligned with company goals, a principle he maintained throughout his tenure.

Year

2010

Total Compensation

$2.87M

Salary

$915.00K

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy for the CEO aligns with performance metrics and includes a pay-for-performance approach, ensuring that compensation is tied to company performance and market benchmarks.

Bonus

$50.00K

Board Justification

The bonus was a one-time payment as part of the separation agreement due to resignation.

Other

$1.90M

Board Justification

This includes the separation payment of $1.9 million, COBRA premiums for health insurance for twelve months, and other benefits as part of the separation agreement.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 Restricted Stock)

Board Justification

No stock vested in 2010 as part of the separation agreement; however, unvested equity awards were accelerated.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics included service revenue and operating income, which were key indicators for determining the annual incentive compensation.

Other Paychex CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Paychex

B. Thomas Golisano

Founder and Ex-CEO of Paychex

January 1979 - October 2004

Martin Mucci

Ex-CEO of Paychex

September 2010 - October 2022