Leah Sweet
GoDaddyAbout Leah Sweet
Independent director at GoDaddy since 2020; age 56. Former Senior Vice President at PayPal with prior leadership roles at American Express, CA Technologies, and the State of Arizona; core credentials in fintech, commerce operations, enterprise transformation, human capital, and corporate governance. She is currently Chair of the Nominating & Governance Committee and a member of the Compensation & Human Capital Committee. GoDaddy’s Board has determined she is independent under NYSE and SEC standards.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| PayPal Inc. | SVP, Global Design, Delivery & Operations; Chief of Staff to CEO (other roles) | Jan 2012 – Mar 2020 | Led large-scale transformations; payments/commerce expertise |
| CA Technologies, Inc. | VP, Customer Success | Apr 2010 – Dec 2011 | Customer success leadership |
| State of Arizona | Deputy Chief Information Officer | May 2009 – Apr 2010 | Public-sector technology operations |
| American Express Company | VP, Technology Strategy & Operations | Feb 2004 – May 2009 | Payments and technology operations |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Public/Private | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMC Technologies | Director | Current | Private | Not disclosed |
| Versapay Corporation | Director | Current | Private | Not disclosed |
| Arizona Technology Council | Director | Oct 2016 – Mar 2020 | Private | Not disclosed |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: Chair, Nominating & Governance; Member, Compensation & Human Capital. Governance met 4x in 2024; Compensation met 5x.
- Independence: Board determined Ms. Sweet is independent.
- Attendance: In 2024 the Board met 5 times; each director attended at least 75% of Board and relevant committee meetings; all directors attended the 2024 annual meeting.
- Board structure/context: Fully declassified board (annual elections) beginning with 2025 meeting; independent Board Chair.
- Governance Committee 2024 highlights under her chairship: led appointment of Graham Smith; conducted board/committee self-assessments; oversight of sustainability, including progress on emissions reduction.
- Stockholder engagement context: Say‑on‑pay support ~95% at 2024 annual meeting, reflecting broad investor support for compensation oversight.
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Policy Amount (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Board Annual Cash Retainer | $50,000 | Standard director cash retainer |
| Governance Committee Chair Fee | $12,000 | Committee chair cash fee |
| Compensation Committee Member Fee | $12,000 | Committee member cash fee |
| Total Cash Earned (2024 actual) | $74,000 | Matches policy-based sum |
- All non-employee directors receive cash retainers; no meeting fees; travel/related expenses reimbursed.
Performance Compensation
| Award Type | Grant/Value | Shares | Vesting | Key Terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual RSU (Director) | $255,000 policy target value | N/A (policy) | Vests the day before next annual meeting | Value per grant set using 30‑day VWAP; policy value raised from $235k to $255k effective Mar 2024 |
| Annual RSU (Leah Sweet, 2024 grant) | $269,694 (grant date fair value) | 1,945 shares | 100% on Jun 3, 2025 | Granted Jun 6, 2024 for Board service |
| Chair RSU (Board Chair only) | +$80,000 value | — | Same as above | Applies to Board Chair (not applicable to Sweet) |
- Director equity is time‑based RSUs; no director options/PSUs are disclosed in policy. RSUs vest on the day immediately prior to the next annual meeting; initial director RSUs vest on first anniversary of grant.
- Company‑wide compensation practices include clawback policies; no hedging or pledging permitted for officers/directors.
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Public/Private | Role | Committee Roles | Potential Interlocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMC Technologies | Private | Director | Not disclosed | None disclosed |
| Versapay Corporation | Private | Director | Not disclosed | None disclosed |
- GoDaddy discloses limits on outside board service (≤4 public boards; further limits for CEOs and audit committee service). All directors comply.
Expertise & Qualifications
- Fintech and financial services operating expertise from PayPal and American Express; commerce/payments domain knowledge.
- Enterprise transformation, strategy development, program management; human capital, executive compensation, corporate governance, succession planning exposure.
Equity Ownership
| Metric | Value | As‑Of | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beneficial Ownership (shares) | 9,407 | Mar 31, 2025 | <1% of outstanding |
| Ownership % of SO | <1% | Mar 31, 2025 | Based on 142,435,493 shares outstanding |
| Outstanding RSUs (director grant) | 1,945 | Dec 31, 2024 | Director annual RSU outstanding; scheduled to vest Jun 3, 2025 |
| Director Ownership Guidelines | 5x annual cash retainer | Policy | All directors compliant or on track by required timeframe |
| Hedging/Pledging | Prohibited | Policy | Applies to officers, directors, employees |
Director Compensation (2024 Actuals)
| Component | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|
| Fees Earned or Paid in Cash | $74,000 |
| Stock Awards (Grant Date Fair Value) | $269,694 |
| All Other Compensation (health benefits) | $19,027 |
| Total | $362,721 |
Governance Assessment
- Strengths: Independent status; serves as Governance Chair and Compensation member—positions central to board effectiveness and ESG/human capital oversight; strong attendance expectations met at Board level; robust say‑on‑pay support (~95%) indicates investor confidence in pay governance; hedging/pledging prohibited; director ownership guidelines (5x retainer) with all directors compliant/on track.
- Conflict review: Company reports no related‑party transactions since Jan 1, 2024, reducing conflict risk.
- Compensation structure signals: Director equity is time‑based RSUs (no options/PSUs), aligning with market norms; 2024 policy increased annual director RSU value from $235k to $255k, modestly shifting mix toward equity but within common practice.
- Board refreshment/context: Board fully declassified; independent Chair model; Governance Committee (chaired by Sweet) led 2024 refreshment (Graham Smith appointment) and board/committee evaluations—positive for oversight.
RED FLAGS: None disclosed specific to Ms. Sweet—no related‑party transactions, no pledging permitted, attendance thresholds met at Board level, and no hedging permitted. Continue to monitor ownership progression against 5x guideline and any future outside public board appointments for potential overboarding risk (policy limits in place).