Thomas C. Kempster
About Thomas C. Kempster
Executive Vice President and Director at Data Storage Corporation (DTST), serving as EVP since February 2020 and on the Board since December 2016; also Chief Experience Officer of CloudFirst Delaware since January 2024, and previously President of Service Delivery through 2021, with a prior career as founder and President of ABC Services (1994–2016) which joint-ventured SIAS in 2012 and was acquired by DTST in 2016 . Age: 58 . Company performance context: the company’s Pay vs. Performance disclosure shows the value of an initial $100 investment in DTST of $54 (2021), $26 (2022), and $51 (2023), alongside net income of $0.3M (2021), $(4.4)M (2022), and $0.3M (2023) .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Storage Corporation | Executive Vice President; Director | EVP since Feb 2020; Director since Dec 2016 | Leads strategic development and growth; long-tenured insider providing operational continuity . |
| CloudFirst Delaware (subsidiary) | Chief Experience Officer (CXO) | Jan 2024–present | Customer experience leadership across CloudFirst; signals focus on retention/service quality . |
| Data Storage Corporation | President, Service Delivery | Until 2021 | Built the foundation of highly rated customer service standards . |
| Flagship (DTST subsidiary) | President | Appointed Oct 2022 | Took operating leadership at subsidiary after CEO resignation, ensuring continuity . |
| ABC Services (IBM Premier partner) | Founder & President | 1994–2016 | Grew managed services and IBM Power systems business; launched SIAS JV with DTST in 2012; acquired by DTST in 2016 . |
External Roles
- No public-company directorships or external board roles disclosed for Mr. Kempster in recent DTST proxy statements .
Fixed Compensation
Cash compensation (Summary Compensation Table)
| Metric (USD) | 2022 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Salary | $174,808 | $215,000 |
| Bonus (Actual) | $25,000 | $100,000 |
| All Other Compensation | — | $7,200 |
| Total | $199,808 | $456,188 |
Base salary schedule set by Compensation Committee (no individual employment agreement)
| Year | Base Salary (USD) |
|---|---|
| 2022 | $174,808 |
| 2023 | $215,000 |
| 2024 | $235,000 |
Notes:
- DTST disclosed it “did not use any financial performance measures” to link NEO compensation to performance for the most recent year; bonuses appear discretionary rather than formulaic .
- Kempster has no individual employment agreement; salary and bonus determined annually by the Compensation Committee .
Performance Compensation
Equity awards and vesting
| Grant Date | Instrument | Amount | Strike/Grant Price | Vesting | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/11/2019 | Stock Options | 2,500 (exercisable) | $2.40 | 33.33% on each of 1-, 2-, 3-year anniversaries (fully vested by 2022) | 12/10/2024 |
| 03/01/2023 | Stock Options | 14,706 (unexercisable at 12/31/23) | $1.96 | 33.33% on each of 1-, 2-, 3-year anniversaries post-grant | 02/28/2028 |
| 04/10/2023 | Stock Options | 25,000 (unexercisable at 12/31/23) | $2.00 | 33.33% on each of 1-, 2-, 3-year anniversaries post-grant | 04/10/2028 |
| 03/01/2023 | RSUs | 14,706 (unvested at 12/31/23) | — | 33.33% on each of 1-, 2-, 3-year anniversaries post-grant | — |
| 03/28/2023 | RSUs | 25,000 (unvested at 12/31/23) | — | 33.33% on each of 1-, 2-, 3-year anniversaries post-grant | — |
Additional context:
- Company policy allows the Compensation Committee to accelerate or modify equity upon a Change in Control at its discretion under the 2021 Plan .
- DTST’s Pay vs Performance section confirms the company did not use financial performance measures to determine NEO pay for the most recent year .
Implications for near-term selling pressure:
- RSU tranches from 2023 grants vest over three years, creating predictable vesting events across 2024–2026; options from 2023 grants vest ratably on anniversaries through 2026 .
- Anti-hedging and anti-pledging policy prohibits pledging or derivative hedging, which reduces forced-selling risk tied to collateral requirements .
Equity Ownership & Alignment
Beneficial ownership
| As-Of Date | Shares Beneficially Owned | % Outstanding |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 17, 2023 | 802,543 | 11.74% |
| May 7, 2024 | 827,346 | 11.84% |
Outstanding awards as of Dec 31, 2023
| Category | Amount | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Options – Exercisable | 2,500 | $2.40 strike; expires 12/10/2024 |
| Options – Unexercisable | 39,706 | 14,706 at $1.96 (exp 2/28/2028); 25,000 at $2.00 (exp 4/10/2028); vest 33.33% annually |
| RSUs – Unvested | 39,706 | 14,706 (grant 3/1/2023) and 25,000 (grant |