Derek Aberle
InterDigitalAbout Derek Aberle
Independent director of InterDigital, Inc. since September 2022; age 55. Co‑founder and Executive Vice Chairman of Virewirx (formerly XCOM Labs); previously served as President of Qualcomm (2014–2018), leading global technology and IP licensing, and held senior roles in Qualcomm Technology Licensing (2008–2011) and Group President (2011–2014). Former CEO/director of Prospector Capital Corp (SPAC, 2020–2023); earlier career as an attorney at Pillsbury Winthrop and Heller Ehrman .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qualcomm | President; EVP & President of Qualcomm Technology Licensing; EVP & Group President | 2000–2018; senior roles 2008–2014; President 2014–2018 | Led technology/IP licensing; grew global licensing business and negotiated deals with largest licensees |
| Prospector Capital Corp (SPAC) | CEO & Director | 2020–2023 | Sponsor leadership, transaction execution |
| Pillsbury Winthrop; Heller Ehrman | Attorney | Pre‑2000 | IP/technology legal practice |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Public/Private | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virewirx (formerly XCOM Labs) | Co‑founder & Executive Vice Chairman; Director | Private | Advanced wireless and XR technologies |
| LeddarTech (Nasdaq: LDTC) | Director | Public | Automotive sensing; board service disclosed |
| EvoNexus | Director | Non‑profit/Incubator | Startup ecosystem governance |
Board Governance
- Independence: Board affirmatively determined Derek K. Aberle is independent under SEC and Nasdaq standards .
- Committee assignments: Member—Human Capital Committee and Finance Committee .
- Board attendance/engagement: Board met 4 times in 2024; each director attended at least 75% of aggregate Board/committee meetings, and all 8 directors attended the 2024 annual meeting .
- Committee cadence: 2024 meetings—Audit (9), Human Capital (5), Nominating & Corporate Governance (4), Finance (4) .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fees Earned or Paid in Cash (2024) | $97,000 | Includes Board/committee retainers and any meeting fees per program |
| Stock Awards (2024) | $200,000 | Annual RSU grant valued at ~$200k |
| Total (2024) | $297,000 |
Director cash retainer program (structure):
| Role | Chair | Member |
|---|---|---|
| Board | $75,000 | $65,000 |
| Audit Committee | $30,000 | $12,000 |
| Human Capital Committee | $25,000 | $10,000 |
| Nominating & Corporate Governance Committee | $15,000 | $7,500 |
| Finance Committee | $15,000 | $7,500 |
Additional elements: $4,000 per Board meeting and $1,000 per committee meeting above 10 per term; $1,000 per diem for special company‑requested events; generally paid quarterly .
Performance Compensation
| Award Type | Grant Date | Shares/Units | Grant Date Fair Value | Vesting/Terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSU (annual director grant) | 6/5/2024 | 1,711 | $200,000 | Vests in full one year from grant; dividend equivalents accrue and pay only upon vesting or end of deferral; deferral election available (prior‑year election required) |
Performance metrics: None for director equity; director RSUs are time‑based, not performance‑based .
Governance features on awards: Subject to company clawback policy; no tax gross‑ups; no dividends paid before vesting .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
- Human Capital Committee interlocks: None—no director serving on the committee was an officer/employee; no executive officer served on another company’s board/compensation committee where an IDCC director sat .
- Current public board: LeddarTech (LDTC) .
- Private/non‑profit boards: Virewirx; EvoNexus .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Board skills: IP licensing; mobile industry; CEO experience; finance/audit; corporate strategy; high‑tech investment; industry connections; high‑tech operations (as identified by IDCC’s skills matrix) .
- Board rationale: Selected for years of patent licensing experience and global business leadership .
Equity Ownership
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership (common shares) | 5,153 shares; less than 1% of outstanding |
| Unvested RSUs outstanding at 12/31/2024 | 1,711 |
| Options outstanding | None (non‑employee directors had no options outstanding) |
| Shares pledged as collateral | None—company notes no shares reported are pledged |
| Ownership guidelines status | Directors must hold stock worth 5× the $65k annual cash retainer; directors have 5 years to comply; as of 3/31/2025, all non‑employee directors had met or were compliant with retention requirements |
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: Aberle adds deep IP licensing and operator experience; active on compensation (Human Capital) and Finance committees, aligning with IDCC’s licensing‑centric business model .
- Independence and attendance: Independent; met Board’s attendance expectations; present at 2024 annual meeting—supports engagement .
- Pay alignment: Director pay mix tilted to equity ($200k RSUs vs $97k cash in 2024), with ownership guidelines and mandatory post‑vesting retention until guideline met—strengthens alignment .
- Controls & investor safeguards: Anti‑hedging policy; clawback policy applied to awards; 2025 plan prohibits repricing/exchange without shareholder approval; no tax gross‑ups; director compensation subject to annual limits .
- Shareholder signals: 2024 say‑on‑pay support ~97%, indicating broad investor approval of compensation governance framework .
- Related‑party exposure: No related‑person transactions disclosed beyond standard indemnification agreements—low conflict risk .
- RED FLAGS: None disclosed—no pledging; no tax gross‑ups; no compensation committee interlocks; repricing prohibited; no delinquent Section 16 filings noted for Aberle .