Richard A. Simonson
About Richard A. Simonson
Richard A. Simonson, 66, has served on EverCommerce’s board since March 2021 and is the Lead Independent Director and Chair of the Audit Committee. He is Managing Partner at Specie Mesa LLC (advisor/investor to private tech companies) and previously served as EVP & CFO of Sabre Corporation (2013–2018), helping take Sabre public in 2014. Simonson currently sits on Electronic Arts’ board (Audit Committee member) and Couchbase’s board (Lead Independent Director; Audit Chair; helped take Couchbase public in 2021). He holds an MBA in Finance from Wharton and a BS in Mining Engineering from Colorado School of Mines .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sabre Corporation | EVP & CFO | Mar 2013 – Jul 2018 | Helped take Sabre public (2014) |
| Silver Spring Networks, Inc. | Director | 2009 – 2018 | Helped take company public (2013) |
| Electronic Arts Inc. | Director | 2009 – present (lead roles 2009–2014) | Former Lead Director, Chair of Nominating & Corporate Governance, and Chair of Audit Committee; currently Audit Committee member |
| Specie Mesa LLC | Managing Partner | Jul 2018 – present | Advisor/investor/independent board member to select PE/VC-backed private tech companies |
| Cast & Crew (private) | Director | Sep 2018 – present | Board member |
External Roles
| Company | Public/Private | Role | Committee/Position | Start |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic Arts Inc. | Public | Director | Audit Committee member | Not stated |
| Couchbase, Inc. | Public | Lead Independent Director | Chair, Audit Committee; helped take public (2021) | Jun 2020 |
| Cast & Crew | Private | Director | — | Sep 2018 |
Board Governance
- Lead Independent Director: Presides over meetings without the Chair, approves Board agendas/schedules, and serves as liaison between independent directors and the CEO/Chair .
- Committee Assignments: Audit Committee Chair; the Audit Committee currently includes Simonson (Chair) and Penny Baldwin-Leonard; he is designated an SEC “audit committee financial expert” and “financially literate” under Nasdaq rules . Not a member of Compensation or Nominating Committees per the committee roster .
- Independence: Board affirmed Simonson is independent under Nasdaq rules .
- Attendance: In 2024, the Board met 5 times; each director attended at least 85% of Board and applicable committee meetings; independent directors held executive sessions presided by the Lead Independent Director .
- Audit Committee Activity: Met 4 times in 2024; following Alexi Wellman’s resignation on April 10, 2025, the Audit Committee had two members; the company notified Nasdaq and will use the cure period to add a third qualified member within 180 days .
- Controlled Company Context: EVCM is a “controlled company” under Nasdaq rules due to PSG and Silver Lake affiliates holding >50% voting power, and relies on certain governance exemptions (e.g., Nominating Committee not entirely independent) .
Fixed Compensation
| Component (2024) | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|
| Cash fees earned (Director retainer + role-based fees) | $89,095 |
| Stock awards (RSUs grant-date fair value) | $199,994 |
| Total | $289,089 |
Non‑employee director policy (amended Feb 22, 2024):
- Annual cash retainer: $55,000; Lead Independent Director add’l: $15,000; Audit Chair add’l: $25,000; other committee fees: Audit member $20,000; Compensation Chair $20,000/member $15,000; Nominating Chair $20,000/member $10,000 .
- Annual RSU grant: $200,000 grant-date value; vests in full on the earlier of the day before next annual meeting or first anniversary; full vest on change of control .
Performance Compensation
| Element | Structure | Metrics | Vesting/Terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Director Equity | RSUs, $200,000 grant-date value | None disclosed for director awards | Vests in full on earlier of day before next annual meeting or first anniversary; accelerates at change of control |
| Clawback & Hedging | Company maintains clawback policy for executive incentive comp; anti-hedging policy applies to directors, officers, employees | — | Clawback for restatements; Hedging prohibited (e.g., swaps/collars/exchange funds) |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Relationship Type | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current public boards | Electronic Arts (Audit Committee member); Couchbase (Lead Independent Director; Audit Chair) |
| Private boards | Cast & Crew (Director) |
| Sponsor influence at EVCM | PSG and Silver Lake designate directors and retain consent rights over major actions while collectively ≥30% post‑IPO ownership, influencing governance dynamics |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Financial leadership and IPO execution (Sabre CFO; took Sabre public; board roles in public listings at Silver Spring Networks and Couchbase) .
- Audit and governance expertise (Audit Chair at EVCM; “audit committee financial expert”; prior Audit Chair and Lead Director roles at EA) .
- Education: MBA (Wharton), BS Mining Engineering (Colorado School of Mines) .
Equity Ownership
| Category | Shares/Units | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership (total) | 153,922 | <1% of outstanding shares |
| Direct common shares | 36,157 | Held by Richard A. Simonson |
| Indirect common shares | 27,399 | Held by Specie Mesa LLC (controlled by Simonson) |
| Options exercisable/vesting ≤60 days (incl. in beneficial) | 70,000 | Included in beneficial count |
| RSUs vesting ≤60 days (incl. in beneficial) | 20,366 | Included in beneficial count |
| Unvested RSUs outstanding (12/31/2024) | 20,366 | Director awards outstanding |
| Stock options outstanding (12/31/2024) | 65,625 (exercisable); 4,375 (unexercisable) | Director option holdings |
Governance Assessment
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Strengths
- Independent leadership and oversight: Lead Independent Director role with clear responsibilities; Audit Chair with SEC “financial expert” designation strengthens financial reporting oversight .
- Engagement: Board/committee attendance ≥85%; regular executive sessions led by Simonson support independent oversight .
- Policies: Anti‑hedging and clawback policies enhance alignment and risk mitigation .
- Alignment: Meaningful director equity via annual RSUs and personal holdings (direct, via Specie Mesa LLC, options/RSUs) promote skin‑in‑the‑game .
-
Risks / RED FLAGS
- Controlled company exemptions: Nominating Committee includes the CEO; sponsors hold designation and consent rights over major actions, which can dilute minority shareholder influence .
- Audit Committee composition gap: Post‑April 10, 2025 resignation, Audit Committee down to two members; company is in Nasdaq cure period to add a qualified third member within 180 days .
- Sponsor interlocks: PSG and Silver Lake designees on the Board and consent rights for key transactions may present potential conflicts requiring vigilant Audit Committee oversight of related‑party matters .
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Implications
- Simonson’s audit and governance depth is a stabilizing factor for investor confidence, particularly amid a controlled company structure and sponsor rights. Ongoing monitoring of Audit Committee composition and rigorous enforcement of the related‑party transaction policy by the Audit Committee are critical to maintain board effectiveness and minority shareholder protections .