Kevin Thompson served as the CEO of SolarWinds Corporation, a prominent player in IT management software, from 2010 until January 2021. During his tenure, he guided the company through significant challenges, including a high-profile cyber incident and a major spin-off...

Kevin Thompson served as the CEO of SolarWinds Corporation, a prominent player in IT management software, from 2010 until January 2021. During his tenure, he guided the company through significant challenges, including a high-profile cyber incident and a major spin-off of its managed services business. His efforts in managing these situations were recognized with a discretionary bonus of $743,836 in 2020. Before his time at SolarWinds, Thompson led several other companies in the tech sector. Despite his impressive climb in the corporate world, details about his educational background remain unclear. In 2020, he had a total compensation of about $10.9 million, mostly through stock awards that vested as a result of performance metrics achieved. Interestingly, he completed a remarkable stock sale just before stepping down, leaving behind a wealth of shares that indicates confidence in the company's future performance. Thompson's decision to resign came as he prepared for a transition, paving the way for new leadership.

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1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other SolarWinds Corporation CEOs

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Kevin Thompson

Ex-CEO of SolarWinds Corporation

Education

Not specified

Field of Expertise

Finance & Banking - Finance

Sector of Economy

Technology

Born

November 14, 1965 - 59 years ago

CEO of SolarWinds Corporation for

10 years 11 months (Feb 2010 - Jan 2021)

Previous Experience

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer at SolarWinds, Chief Financial Officer of Surgient, Inc., Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at SAS Institute

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Kevin Thompson

Holdings

See how much did Kevin Thompson make over time.

At the end of Kevin Thompson's time at SolarWinds, he held a substantial number of shares estimated at around $394,306. Notably, in 2020, he participated in a significant stock buyback, which indicated a strategic move on his part just before...

At the end of Kevin Thompson's time at SolarWinds, he held a substantial number of shares estimated at around $394,306. Notably, in 2020, he participated in a significant stock buyback, which indicated a strategic move on his part just before leaving the company. His holdings peaked when he served as CEO, as he was granted multiple equity awards that aligned with performance targets. This meant that he had vested interests tied to the company's operational success, highlighting his belief in the company's potential. By the time he stepped down, he had a remarkable portfolio of stocks with an impressive market value derived from years of dedication to the organization, underlining an ultimate goal of aligning personal financial growth with business achievements.

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Total Stock Sold

$24.95M

SWI

$24.23M

547,729 SWI shares

BL

$724.37K

11,739 BL shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Kevin Thompson didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra SWI547,729 shares worth $19.65M and BL11,739 shares worth $1.03M.
This is -17.12% and $4.27M less than what they got when they sold the stock.

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Kevin Thompson.

BL

$258.75K

BL at $57.50/share

Feb 29, 2024

Sale

BL

3,387 shares

BL

May 10, 2023

Received

BL

3,401 shares

BL

May 12, 2022

Received

BL

1,847 shares

BL

May 13, 2021

Received

SWI

$3.60M

SWI at $21.65/share

Nov 19, 2020

Sale

SWI

$3.78M

SWI at $21.60/share

Nov 16, 2020

Sale

SWI

$3.78M

SWI at $21.60/share

Nov 18, 2020

Sale

SWI

$7.92M

SWI at $22.06/share

Nov 16, 2020

Sale

SWI

$6.99M

SWI at $19.50/share

Aug 11, 2020

Sale

SWI

101,289 shares

SWI

Aug 6, 2020

Received

Compensation History

See how much did Kevin Thompson make over time.

During his tenure, Kevin Thompson's compensation reflected his crucial role and substantial responsibilities as CEO. In 2020, he earned a total of about $10.9 million, which included a salary of $700,000, a bonus of $743,836 for navigating challenges, and significant stock awards that would vest over time. His bonus payout was linked to his successful management during a cyber incident and the company's restructuring. This structure—a mix of fixed salary, performance bonuses, and stock awards—demonstrated a commitment to tying executive pay to the overall health of the company, allowing him to benefit as the company thrived. His impressive earnings came as he prepared to exit, ensuring he left with a financial mark of his leadership.

Year

2020

Total Compensation

$12.15M

Salary

$440.00K

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy aims to attract and retain qualified executives while aligning compensation with company performance and shareholder value.

Bonus

$743.84K

Board Justification

Discretionary bonus paid to the CEO in recognition of performance during the year, including responses to the Cyber Incident and management during the Spin-Off.

Other

$11.60K

Board Justification

Employer contribution to the CEO's Section 401(k) retirement plan account.

Restricted Stock

$10.96M(772.12K RSU)

Board Justification

RSUs that vest 25% on the anniversary of January 4, 2021 and 6.25% per quarter over the following twelve quarters, subject to continued service.

Performance Metrics

Performance metrics for the CEO's compensation were influenced by the company's response to the Cyber Incident and management during the Spin-Off.

Other SolarWinds Corporation CEOs

Here are other CEOs of SolarWinds Corporation

Sudhakar Ramakrishna

CEO of SolarWinds Corporation

January 2021 - Present