Janaki Akella
AKAMAI TECHNOLOGIESAbout Janaki Akella
Independent director appointed to Akamai’s Board effective July 7, 2025; serves on the Audit Committee and Finance Committee. Background includes executive leadership roles at Google (head of digital transformation in Google Cloud), McKinsey & Company, and an early career at HP; current board service at Southern Company, Sallie Mae Corporation (SLM), and Fractal Analytics; recognized with the Distinguished Alumni award by College of Engineering, Guindy, India, and among Top 100 AAPI Board Members Making a Difference. Age not disclosed; tenure at Akamai begins July 2025; core credentials in AI, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and digital transformation .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Executive leadership roles; head of digital transformation in Google Cloud | Not disclosed | Led AI- and cloud-driven customer transformation initiatives | |
| McKinsey & Company | Executive leadership roles | Not disclosed | Strategy consulting; technology and transformation expertise |
| Hewlett-Packard (HP) | Early career | Not disclosed | Technology operations foundation |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Oversight/Focus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Company | Director | Current | Oversight of cybersecurity for critical infrastructure |
| Sallie Mae (SLM Corporation) | Director | Current | Technology and AI-based business transformation |
| Fractal Analytics | Director | Current | Governance of long-term strategic direction (AI solutions provider) |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Audit Committee (non-chair) and Finance Committee (non-chair) .
- Independence and conflicts: No arrangements or transactions requiring Item 404(a) disclosure; compensation consistent with Non‑Employee Director Compensation Plan, prorated for service commencement .
- Board structure and oversight context: Independent Chair of the Board (Dan Hesse); committees comprised of independent directors as defined by Nasdaq rules; Audit provides quarterly oversight of cybersecurity, data privacy; ESG and TL&C oversee governance, compensation, and human capital .
- Attendance standards: Board held seven meetings in 2024; each incumbent director attended >75% of Board and committee meetings; all directors expected to attend regular meetings and the annual stockholder meeting (Akella joined in 2025; 2024 attendance applies to incumbents) .
- Ethics and related-party safeguards: Code of Ethics prohibits conflicts and related-party transactions; 2024 proxy reports no related-party transactions .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Director Retainer (Cash) | $75,000 | Paid in arrears; prorated for partial-year service |
| Annual Director Equity (DSUs) | $275,000 | Granted on annual meeting date; vests in full on 1st anniversary; distribution may be deferred up to 10 years; prorated for partial year |
| Chair of Board (additional) | $100,000 ($25k cash; $75k DSUs) | Not applicable to Akella |
| Committee Chair Fee | $35,000 ($5k cash; $30k DSUs) | Not applicable (non-chair) |
Performance Compensation
- Directors do not receive performance-based equity (no PRSUs or relative TSR awards); equity is delivered via DSUs with time-based vesting. If a director has completed one year of service, DSU vesting accelerates upon departure from the Board .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Sector | Potential Interlock/Conflict with Akamai |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Company | Utilities (Energy) | No direct competitive overlap; oversight of critical infrastructure cybersecurity useful to Akamai’s security portfolio |
| Sallie Mae (SLM) | Financial Services | No direct competitive overlap; finance and technology transformation experience additive |
| Fractal Analytics | AI Solutions | Private company; AI governance insights complementary to Akamai’s AI initiatives |
- Related-party exposure: None disclosed for Akella; 8-K notes no material interest in transactions requiring Item 404(a) disclosure .
- Anti-hedging/pledging: Company policy prohibits hedging and pledging by directors .
Expertise & Qualifications
- AI/ML and cloud computing depth; cybersecurity governance; “voice of the customer” perspective from Google Cloud leadership .
- Strategy and transformation credentials from McKinsey; technology operations grounding from HP .
- Recognitions include College of Engineering, Guindy Distinguished Alumni and Top 100 AAPI Board Members list .
Equity Ownership
- Ownership guidelines: Non‑employee directors must hold Akamai stock equal to 5× base annual cash retainer; directors have three years from election to attain compliance; vested but undistributed DSUs count toward guidelines (unvested awards do not) .
- Anti‑insider measures: Insider Trading Policy prohibits speculative transactions; directors may not pledge Akamai securities .
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: Appointment strengthens board technology, AI, and cloud competence, aligned with Akamai’s strategic shift toward security and compute; committee placement (Audit and Finance) positions Akella to influence financial discipline and cybersecurity oversight .
- Alignment and independence: Prorated DSU-heavy director pay aligns incentives with long-term equity; no related-party transactions disclosed at appointment; robust ownership guidelines and anti-hedging/pledging policy support investor alignment .
- RED FLAGS: None identified in filings (no Item 404(a) related-party transactions; no tax gross-ups for change-in-control; board and committees structured with independence). Monitoring item: multi-board workload typical of senior directors—attendance expectations remain high; Akamai’s 2024 record shows strong attendance among incumbents .