Tara Seracka
FastlyAbout Tara Seracka
Tara Seracka was appointed Chief Legal Officer (CLO) of Fastly on May 15, 2025, responsible for Fastly’s global legal organization and strategy . She previously served as Senior Vice President & Deputy General Counsel at Cisco (and General Counsel of Meraki), and earlier practiced at Orrick and Perkins Coie; she holds a B.S. from Santa Clara University and a J.D. from Boston College . During her initial months, Fastly reported Q2 2025 revenue growth of 12% y/y to $148.7M, generated $10.9M of positive free cash flow, and raised FY25 guidance, providing context for the operating environment surrounding her onboarding .
Company performance context (selected metrics):
| Metric | Q2 2024 | Q2 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Total Revenue ($M) | $132.4 | $148.7 |
| GAAP Gross Margin | 55.1% | 54.5% |
| Non-GAAP Gross Margin | 59.4% | 59.0% |
| Free Cash Flow ($M) | -$18.5 | $10.9 |
| Top 10 Customer Rev. % | 34% | 31% |
| LTM Net Retention Rate | 110% | 104% |
| RPO ($M) | $223.1 | $315.1 |
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco Systems, Inc. | Senior Vice President & Deputy General Counsel | — | Led legal support for worldwide Engineering across IP, AI, data privacy/security, commercial, product and market access matters . |
| Cisco Meraki | General Counsel | — | Legal leadership for fast-scaling networking/cloud unit acquired by Cisco . |
| Orrick; Perkins Coie | Attorney (Finance/Technology) | — | Advised emerging growth and public companies and private equity funds . |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco–Marin Food Bank | Board of Directors (Vice Chair) | Since 2020 | Governance and development leadership for regional food security non-profit . |
| Markkula Center for Applied Ethics, Santa Clara Univ. | Advisory Board (Internet Ethics Council) | — | Guidance on tech/ethics issues; community and governance engagement . |
Fixed Compensation
| Component | 2025 Terms |
|---|---|
| Base salary | Not disclosed for CLO as of latest filings. Fastly did not file an Item 5.02 8‑K or exhibit detailing Seracka’s compensation . |
| Target bonus % and mechanics | Not disclosed for CLO. Company-wide, bonus programs pay in RSUs for certain executives (e.g., 2024 Bonus Program), but CLO-specific targets not reported . |
| Perquisites/benefits | Standard executive benefits practices (401(k), ESPP, health/welfare) described in proxy; CLO-specific perquisites not disclosed . |
Performance Compensation
No CLO-specific equity grant or performance plan terms were disclosed in public filings as of this review. However, governance context for Fastly’s 2025 executive program includes the introduction of 3-year relative TSR PSUs and a performance mix of PSUs/RSUs for senior executives; this evidences a shift toward multi-year market- and operating-based outcomes (note: not specific to the CLO) . For 2024, company incentive metrics for NEOs were revenue (66.7% weight) and non-GAAP operating loss % of revenue (33.3% weight), with realized payout at 25% of target; again, Seracka was not a 2024 NEO and these metrics are context only .
| Metric (Company NEO 2024 context) | Weight | Threshold | Target | Max | Actual | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 66.7% | $559M | $589M | $618M | $544M | 0% (weighted to 0%) |
| Non‑GAAP Op. Loss % of Rev. | 33.3% | -7.0% | -3.5% | 0% | -5.0% | 75% (weighted to 25% overall) |
Equity Ownership & Alignment
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Form 3/Section 16 ownership | No Seracka Form 3/4 locating her beneficial ownership was identified in EDGAR as of the sources reviewed; she is frequently listed as Attorney‑in‑Fact signing Section 16 forms for other officers (e.g., CEO Compton; President, Go to Market Lovett), which confirms her role in governance processes . |
| Pledging/hedging | Fastly prohibits hedging and generally prohibits pledging absent approvals; only Artur Bergman’s pledge arrangement is disclosed. No pledging by Seracka is disclosed . |
| Ownership guidelines | Executive officers must hold equity equal to 3x base salary (CEO 6x). Applies to “Other Executive Officers,” a category typically inclusive of the CLO; individual compliance status for Seracka not disclosed . |
Employment Terms
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| Start date | May 15, 2025 (appointment announcement) . |
| Contract/severance | No CLO offer letter/severance exhibit located. Fastly maintains change‑in‑control and severance plans for certain executives, but Seracka’s participation has not been disclosed; recent filings explicitly confirmed participation only for specific officers (CEO/CFO/President, Go to Market) . |
| Trading arrangements | Officers are subject to Fastly’s insider trading policy including 10b5‑1, anti‑hedging, and limits on pledging . |
Investment Implications
- Alignment and governance: The legal function is embedded in controls—Seracka is listed as agent for service on the 2025 Inducement Plan S‑8 and serves as attorney‑in‑fact on Section 16 filings—underscoring process rigor and oversight of insider compliance .
- Retention risk and disclosure gap: Unlike CEO/CFO, no Seracka offer letter or equity award disclosure has been filed, limiting visibility on vesting schedules, severance triggers, and potential selling pressure. This opacity modestly elevates analytical uncertainty on pay‑for‑performance alignment and retention incentives relative to other executives whose terms are filed .
- Policy safeguards: Executive stock ownership guidelines (3x base salary) and prohibitions on hedging/pledging (with rare, board‑approved exceptions) mitigate misalignment and reduce red flags often tied to insider liquidity/leverage practices .
- Operating backdrop: Fastly’s mid‑2025 metrics (positive free cash flow, double‑digit revenue growth, improved RPO) reflect a stabilizing environment during Seracka’s onboarding, with governance continuity through executive transitions—factors that typically reduce governance‑driven discount risk if maintained .
Evidence gaps remain around Seracka’s specific compensation structure (base/bonus targets, RSU/PSU mix, vesting cadence) and severance/CIC protections. Monitor future 8‑Ks and the 2026 proxy (DEF 14A) for first disclosure of CLO compensation and ownership.
Notes and sources:
- Appointment and biography: Fastly press release (May 15, 2025) and SCU Markkula Center profile .
- External roles: SF‑Marin Food Bank board (Vice Chair) and Markkula Center advisory board .
- Company results and metrics: Fastly Q2 2025 8‑K, investor supplement .
- Governance/compensation policies: 2025 Proxy (ownership guidelines, insider trading, anti‑pledging, severance plan context) .
- Section 16/Attorney‑in‑Fact: Power of attorney; Form 3/4 signatures .