Stephen J. Girsky is the President and CEO of Nikola Corporation, starting his role in August 2023 after previously serving as CEO of VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., which merged with Nikola. He has been cutting deals and strategizing in the vehicle...

Stephen J. Girsky is the President and CEO of Nikola Corporation, starting his role in August 2023 after previously serving as CEO of VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., which merged with Nikola. He has been cutting deals and strategizing in the vehicle industry for over a decade, and his expertise comes from his leadership at General Motors, where he was Vice Chairman. Stephen, who has been on Nikola's board since 2018, has a strong sense for transforming big ideas into reality, especially in zero-emission transport. He has recently taken on the extra roles of Acting Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer for Nikola, showing his hands-on approach to leadership. In terms of salary, he is paid $1 million per year but has opted out of cash bonuses, aligning his interests with the company’s success. His recent stock awards combine both vested shares and performance metrics to further tie his success to Nikola's future. Notably, he has experience steering companies through challenging times and focusing on sustainable solutions. Under his guidance, Nikola aims to build a robust infrastructure that supports hydrogen-fueled vehicles and electric trucks.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Nikola Corporation CEOs

N

Stephen J. Girsky

CEO of Nikola Corporation

Education

Not specified

Field of Expertise

Business & Management

Sector of Economy

Industrials

Born

January 1, 1962 - 63 years ago

CEO of Nikola Corporation for

1 year 9 months (Aug 2023 - Present)

Previous Experience

President and Chief Executive Officer of VectoIQ Acquisition Corp., various roles at General Motors Company including Vice Chairman.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Stephen J. Girsky

Holdings

See how much did Stephen J. Girsky make over time.

Stephen J. Girsky's holdings in Nikola have seen significant activity over the years. Back in 2019, he made considerable insider trades ranging from about $3.87 million to $4.34 million monthly. However, in a major shift in June 2020, he sold...

Stephen J. Girsky's holdings in Nikola have seen significant activity over the years. Back in 2019, he made considerable insider trades ranging from about $3.87 million to $4.34 million monthly. However, in a major shift in June 2020, he sold over $112 million worth of stocks, marking a peak in his trading activity. After that, fluctuations in his stock sales went down, with 2021 seeing a range of trades from $22 million to $42 million each month. Since beginning his leadership at Nikola, more recently, the value of his holdings has continued to fluctuate, averaging around $9 million per month in sales in the last year. With a current estimated holding of just over $1.8 million in restricted stock units, his wealth remains significantly tied to Nikola's progress.

Mar 18, 2025

G

shares

GM @ $48.67

X

shares

X @ $41.70

Total Stock Sold

$4.19M

GM

$4.19M

116,855 GM shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Stephen J. Girsky didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra GM116,855 shares worth $3.41M.
This is -18.72% and $784.82K less than what they got when they sold the stock.

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Stephen J. Girsky.

X

16,994.633 shares

X

Jan 15, 2021

Received

Compensation History

See how much did Stephen J. Girsky make over time.

For 2023, Stephen J. Girsky's total compensation includes a base salary of $1 million without annual bonuses, as he chose not to participate in any cash incentive plans. He has been granted 550,000 restricted stock units (RSUs) that vest over two years, with a value of $1.87 million. Furthermore, he is eligible for performance stock units (PSUs) based on achieving specified milestones, potentially adding even more to his compensation if Nikola meets its targets. His other compensation amounts to about $29,423, including a company match for his 401(k) retirement plan and relocation expenses from moving to Arizona. This structure incentivizes him to align closely with the company's longer-term goals and success. The idea is that if Nikola does well, so does he, creating a partnership with shareholders and stakeholders alike.

Year

2023

Total Compensation

$2.90M

Salary

$1.00M

Board Justification

Nikola's executive compensation program is designed to reward the successful development and commercialization of transportation and energy solutions, aligning executive interests with those of stockholders.

Bonus

$0.00

Board Justification

Mr. Girsky has declined to participate in any annual cash bonus program, without regard to his eligibility for any such program.

Other

$29.42K

Board Justification

This amount includes company matching contributions to our 401(k) plan and relocation reimbursements related to his move to Arizona.

Restricted Stock

$1.87M(550K RSUs)

Board Justification

Mr. Girsky was granted 550,000 RSUs on August 3, 2023, which vest annually over two years, subject to continuous service through August 3, 2025.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for the PSUs are based on the achievement of pre-established performance-based milestones.

Other Nikola Corporation CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Nikola Corporation

Michael Lohscheller

Ex-CEO of Nikola Corporation

November 2022 - August 2023