Simon Sharon
Microbot MedicalAbout Simon Sharon
Simon Sharon, age 64, serves as Chief Technology Officer since April 2018 and General Manager of Microbot Israel since April 2021, with prior roles in R&D and operations across medical devices and precision equipment; his compensation is milestone-linked (target annual cash bonus up to 35% of salary) and includes equity options, with 2024 cash bonus of $84,754 and a one-time cash bonus of approximately $64,200 in September 2025; beneficial ownership was 121,794 shares as of April 15, 2025 (under 1%) .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microbot Medical Inc. | Chief Technology Officer | Apr 2018–present | Leads technology and product development for LIBERTY endovascular robotic system |
| Microbot Israel | General Manager | Apr 2021–present | Oversees Israel operations and execution |
| Microbot Israel | Chief Operating Officer | Feb 2013–Aug 2016 | Operational leadership pre-public company transition |
| IceCure Medical (TASE: ICCM) | VP, R&D | Not disclosed | Led development of cryogenic ablation systems |
| Rockwell Automation–Anorad Israel | Various leadership roles | Not disclosed | Precision positioning systems experience |
| Disc-O-Tech Medical Technologies | R&D Manager | Not disclosed | Orthopedic device development; company later acquired by Kyphon/Medtronic |
| CI Systems | R&D Manager | Not disclosed | Electro-optical test and measurement equipment |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEDX Xelerator (incubator) | Chief Technology Officer | Aug 2016–Mar 2018 | Led medtech and digital health incubation projects |
| XACT Robotics Ltd. (private) | Director | Until Jan 2024 (start not disclosed) | Governance role; company ceased operations and entered insolvency in Israel |
Fixed Compensation
| Metric | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Salary (USD unless noted) | $195,901 | $241,455 | 960,000 (currency not specified in proxy excerpt) |
| Target Annual Cash Bonus (% of salary) | 35% | 35% | 35% |
| Actual Annual Cash Bonus Paid | $87,022 | $84,754 | Not disclosed (one-time special bonus ~$64,200 on 9/17/2025) |
| Automobile Allowance & Tax Gross-up | Provided (amount not specified) | Provided (amount not specified) | Provided (tax gross-up on vehicle) |
Note: 2025 base salary figure appears in NIS context elsewhere for executives; the excerpt for Sharon lists “960,000” without currency. Annual bonus amounts shown are from the Summary Compensation Table (exact USD). The one-time 2025 bonus was separate from the annual plan. .
Performance Compensation
| Period | Incentive Type | Metric | Weighting | Target | Actual/Payout | Vesting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2023 | Annual Cash Bonus | Milestone-based (company-established) | Not disclosed | 35% of salary | $87,022 | Cash, paid in 2024 |
| FY2024 | Annual Cash Bonus | Milestone-based (company-established) | Not disclosed | 35% of salary | $84,754 | Cash, paid in 2025 |
| Feb 2024 grant | Performance-based Stock Options | Performance conditions (not detailed) | Not disclosed | 17,500 options | 8,750 options vested by Feb 5, 2025 | 10-year options; partial vest achieved by 2/5/2025 |
| Aug 2023 grant | Stock Options | Time/performance terms per plan | Not disclosed | 17,500 options | Not disclosed | As per 2020 Plan |
Equity Ownership & Alignment
| Metric | 2024 (as of proxy date) | 2025 (as of Apr 15, 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Beneficial Ownership (shares) | 100,669 (under 1%) | 121,794 (under 1%) |
| Ownership % of Common Shares | <1% | <1% |
| Stock Ownership Guidelines | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| Pledged Shares | No pledging disclosed in proxy materials | No pledging disclosed in proxy materials |
Outstanding Options at 12/31/2024 (Sharon)
| Exercisable | Unexercisable | Exercise Price | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10,000 | – | $9.00 | 08/13/2028 |
| 14,170 | – | $5.95 | 08/12/2029 |
| 23,125 | 1,875 | $6.48 | 01/26/2032 |
| 21,875 | 13,125 | $3.48 | 12/21/2032 |
| 8,312 | 9,188 | $2.43 | 08/01/2033 |
| 17,500 | – | $1.2684 | 02/22/2034 |
| 5,687 | 11,813 | $1.2684 | 02/22/2034 |
| 8,750 | – | $1.25 | 02/26/2034 |
Aggregate options granted since plan inception attributed to Sharon: 165,000 as of April 15, 2025 ([“Number of Shares Underlying Options”] table) .
Employment Terms
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| Agreement dates | Employment Agreement dated Mar 31, 2018; amended Apr 19, 2021; May 15, 2023; Feb 5, 2025 |
| Role | CTO and General Manager, Microbot Israel (indefinite term) |
| 2025 Base Salary | 960,000 (currency not specified in excerpt) |
| Target Annual Cash Bonus | Up to 35% of annual salary; milestone-based |
| Severance/pension/education contributions | 8.33% to severance fund; 6.5% to provident/pension; 7.5% to educational fund; disability insurance up to 75% of base/overtime |
| Automobile allowance & tax | Monthly automobile allowance with tax gross-up |
| Termination (without cause) | 90 days prior written notice by either party |
| Termination (for cause) | Immediate termination without advance notice |
| Non-compete / Non-solicit | Customary non-compete and non-solicit; confidentiality and IP assignment |
| Equity grants cadence | Additional compensatory options considered annually; Aug 2023: 17,500; Feb 2024: 52,500 (incl. 17,500 performance-based) |
| One-time cash bonus (2025) | ~$64,200 granted on Sep 17, 2025 due to prior 2023 salary waivers under cost restructure |
Compensation Structure Analysis
- Mix of cash vs equity: Salary increased from $195,901 (2023) to $241,455 (2024), while annual bonus remained ~35% of salary with payout of $87,022 (2023) and $84,754 (2024); option grant-date fair value rose from $88,418 (2023) to $123,785 (2024) .
- Continued use of options (including performance-based tranches) with no RSU/PSU disclosures for Sharon; Feb 2024 grant included 17,500 performance options, 8,750 vested by Feb 5, 2025 .
- Guaranteed elements: Automobile allowance with tax gross-up increases guaranteed/perquisite compensation; milestone bonus structure remains at-risk without detailed metric disclosure .
- Discretionary/one-time awards: Sep 2025 one-time cash bonus (~$64,200) reflecting compensation adjustments tied to 2023 salary waivers under cost restructuring .
Risk Indicators & Red Flags
- Tax gross-ups: Automobile allowance includes tax gross-up, which is typically shareholder-unfriendly .
- Limited metric transparency: Bonus metrics described as “milestones” without specific KPIs/weights, reducing pay-for-performance clarity .
- Insolvency at external directorship: XACT Robotics ceased operations and entered insolvency proceedings (context for external role history) .
- Section 16 compliance: Company states required insider ownership filings met for 2024 (except an untimely Form 3 for a director; no exceptions noted for Sharon) .
- Pledging/hedging: No pledging disclosures for Sharon in beneficial ownership sections .
Equity Ownership & Alignment Details
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Beneficial ownership trend | 100,669 shares (2024) to 121,794 shares (2025); under 1% of outstanding |
| Option portfolio | Multiple long-dated options with strikes $1.25–$9.00 expiring 2028–2034; mix of exercisable and unexercisable tranches |
| Alignment considerations | Significant option exposure ties upside to share price; lack of disclosed stock ownership guidelines limits formal alignment benchmarking |
Performance & Track Record
- Executive scope: CTO and GM roles spanning technology leadership and Israel operations since 2018/2021, respectively .
- External role context: MEDX Xelerator CTO (2016–2018) and director at XACT Robotics until Jan 2024; XACT entered insolvency, offering mixed external track record context .
Investment Implications
- Retention: 90-day mutual termination notice and ongoing annual option grants suggest moderate retention incentives; performance-based vesting (8,750 vested by Feb 2025) indicates execution-linked equity realization .
- Alignment: Ownership remains under 1%, but sizeable option portfolio provides leverage to upside; absence of ownership guidelines disclosure constrains alignment assessment .
- Pay-for-performance: Bonus target fixed at 35% with milestone-based criteria but limited transparency; investors should monitor committee disclosures and any future detailing of KPIs to gauge rigor .
- Governance signals: Tax gross-up on auto allowance and one-time 2025 cash bonus adjustments merit scrutiny for compensation discipline; however, 2023–2024 equity awards include performance-based options, partially vesting on results .
- Execution risk: External insolvency at XACT Robotics is not directly attributable but highlights the sector’s risk profile; continued progress on LIBERTY system development under Sharon’s technical leadership remains the core driver .