Michael Park
About Michael Park
Michael Park (age 56) has served as an independent director of Digimarc (DMRC) since 2024. He is SVP and Global Head of AI Go‑To‑Market at ServiceNow and brings 25+ years across marketing, product management, sales, and GTM at leading tech companies. He holds a BA in economics and finance from the University of Rochester and an MBA from Harvard Business School .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW) | SVP & Global Head of AI Go‑To‑Market; previously Chief Marketing Officer | Joined 2020; CMO from Jan 2022 | Built agile marketing; integrated GTM across segments, solutions, industries |
| EagleView | Chief Product & Marketing Officer | 2019–2020 | Modernized aerial imagery/reporting into cloud big data & ML platforms |
| HP (NYSE: HPQ) | Leadership roles in commercial PC portfolio and managed services | 2013–2018 | Rebuilt PC portfolio and services in ~18 months; improved margins; recaptured share |
| Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) | Leadership roles including U.S. channel, Microsoft Dynamics, Server & Tools GTM | 2005–2013 | Led $4B U.S. channel through 2008 crisis; drove hybrid cloud GTM for $17B division |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Public Company Board? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ServiceNow | SVP & Global Head of AI GTM | Not disclosed as a board role | Current executive employment |
| Other boards | — | None disclosed in Digimarc proxy | Proxy bios list public boards; none indicated for Park |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Compensation and Talent Management Committee (member); Governance, Nominating, and Sustainability Committee (member) .
- Independence: Board determined Park is independent under Nasdaq Rule 5605; all non‑CEO directors are independent .
- Attendance: Board held seven formal meetings in 2024; each current serving director attended over 75% of aggregate Board and committee meetings; five of seven directors attended the 2024 Annual Meeting .
- Expertise mapped in Board Skills Matrix: Technology/Data/Cyber Security; Human Capital/Talent Development; Culture/D&I; Sales/Marketing .
- Risk oversight linkages: Compensation Committee oversees compensation and HCM risks; Governance Committee oversees governance, related‑party transactions, conflicts of interest, ethics, ESG; both report to Board quarterly .
Fixed Compensation (Director)
| Component | Park (2024) | Program Terms |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer | $58,365 | Base director cash retainer $50,000; Chairs: Board $40,000; Committee Chairs $15,000; paid quarterly; no meeting fees |
| Cash retainer taken in shares (election) | $24,910 in shares | Directors may elect 0%, 50%, or 100% of cash retainer in common shares; starting 2025 includes chair retainers |
Performance Compensation (Director Equity)
| Grant Type | Grant Date | Shares | Grant Date Fair Value | Vesting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Initial restricted stock (new director) | Jan 9, 2024 | 5,586 | Included in 2024 stock awards total | Vests over 3 years, 1/3 each anniversary |
| Pro‑rated annual restricted stock | Jan 9, 2024 | 926 | Included in 2024 stock awards total | Restrictions lapse ~1 year or before next annual meeting (≥50 weeks after prior meeting) |
| Annual restricted stock (continuing director) | Jun 7, 2024 | 3,555 | Included in 2024 stock awards total | Annual grant; restrictions as above |
| Total stock awards value (2024) | — | — | $333,262 | Aggregate RS values in 2024 non‑employee director compensation |
- Director equity structure: initial ~$200,000 restricted stock (3‑year ratable vesting); annual ~$100,000 restricted stock (1‑year restriction, aligned to annual meeting cycle) .
- Performance metrics: none disclosed for director equity; Digimarc’s performance‑based equity metrics apply to executives, not non‑employee directors .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current public company directorships | None disclosed for Michael Park in Digimarc proxy |
| Interlocks or related‑party exposure | Governance Committee reviews/approves any related‑party transactions; none disclosed involving Park |
| External executive role | SVP at ServiceNow; no Digimarc‑ServiceNow transactions disclosed |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Strategic and operational leadership across marketing, product, sales, GTM; recognized on Forbes Entrepreneurial CMO 50; media features and summit participation indicate thought leadership .
- Board matrix alignment in Technology/Data/Cybersecurity, Talent Development, Culture/D&I, Sales/Marketing, supporting Digimarc’s AI governance and commercialization priorities .
Equity Ownership
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Beneficially owned shares | 10,895; <1% of outstanding |
| Unvested restricted shares (12/31/2024) | 9,141 |
| Stock options outstanding | None (no director options outstanding as of 12/31/2024) |
| Ownership guidelines | Directors required to hold ≥6x annual cash retainer; all directors exceeded guidelines as of 12/31/2024 |
| Hedging/pledging | Prohibited for directors under insider trading policy |
Governance Assessment
- Alignment and incentives: Park’s 2024 compensation mix is largely equity ($333,262 stock awards vs. $58,365 cash), consistent with Digimarc’s emphasis on equity over cash for directors and alignment with shareholder value; directors may further increase alignment by electing cash retainer in shares (Park elected $24,910 in shares) .
- Independence and oversight: Independent status, membership on Compensation and Governance committees, and Board processes (plurality‑plus resignation policy, annual evaluations, executive sessions) support board effectiveness and investor confidence .
- Attendance and engagement: Board‑level disclosure indicates directors met attendance expectations (>75%); committees met regularly (Compensation: 5; Governance: 4), evidencing active oversight .
- Conflicts and related parties: Governance Committee oversees conflicts and related‑party deals; no transactions disclosed involving Park; anti‑hedging/pledging reduces misalignment risk .
- Ownership alignment: Directors exceeded strengthened ownership guidelines (6x cash retainer), and Park holds 10,895 shares with substantial unvested RS positions, reinforcing long‑term orientation .
RED FLAGS: None disclosed specific to Michael Park in Digimarc’s proxy (no related‑party transactions, no pledging/hedging, and independence affirmed) .