Pierre Daniel Alexus
NeonodeAbout Pierre Daniel Alexus
Pierre Daniel (“Daniel”) Alexus, 40, was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of Neonode Inc. effective March 31, 2025; he holds an M.Sc. in Engineering & Management from KTH Royal Institute of Technology, plus a London Business School Masterclass in Private Equity and board certification from StyrelseAkademien . Since his appointment, company results reflect a continued pivot away from legacy revenue: Q2 2025 revenue fell 25.2% YoY to $0.6M and Q3 2025 revenue fell 48.7% YoY to $0.4M; Q3 included a $15.5M patent-assignment gain driving $13.9M income from continuing operations . Prior to his tenure, Neonode’s cumulative TSR from Dec 31, 2021 to Dec 31, 2024 was $92.99 on an initial $100, and the company reported 2024 net loss of $6.466M (pay-versus-performance table) .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ericsson ONE (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson) | Executive, Global Head of Innovation; founder of Ericsson’s intrapreneurship program and venture studio | Apr 2018–Mar 2025 | Oversaw incubation/scaling of AI, SaaS, deep-tech ventures; drove corporate innovation and growth |
| MetraTech (Ericsson-acquired billing software) | General Manager | Aug 2014–Mar 2018 | Integrated acquired company; drove significant customer growth |
| Ericsson | Strategy Director | Sep 2013–Aug 2014 | Led go-to-market transformation and executed a major software acquisition |
| Earlier roles (Silicon Valley & Stockholm) | Corporate strategy, business development, innovation leadership | Not disclosed | Senior roles in strategy and innovation leadership |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Einride | Board Observer | 2019–2024 | Freight technology company; observer capacity |
| Arkion | Board Member | As of Mar 21, 2025 (approved) | Approved outside engagement per Employment Agreement Appendix 2 |
Fixed Compensation
| Component | Terms | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Base salary | SEK 185,000 per month (approx. US$18,000); annual review | |
| Pension | Company contributions per policy (“Neonode New (4.5%–30%)”) | |
| Insurance | Occupational group life, occupational injury, health insurance, business travel insurance | |
| Health/Wellness | Health care allowance (friskvårdsbidrag) per company policy | |
| Annual leave | 30 days per Swedish Annual Leave Act; limited carry-forward; cash-out of excess | |
| Expenses/Equipment | Reimbursement of reasonable pre-approved business expenses; necessary work equipment provided |
Performance Compensation
| Metric/Instrument | Target/Cap | Weighting | Performance goals | Actual/Payout | Vesting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual cash bonus | Up to 50% of fixed annual salary | Not disclosed | Metrics set by Board; based on CEO and company financial performance | Not disclosed | Cash; timing per plan (employment condition at payment) |
Notes:
- Bonus is discretionary; requires continued employment on payment date; Board may amend/terminate scheme at any time .
- Company has a Dodd-Frank–compliant clawback policy for incentive-based compensation tied to restated financials .
Equity Ownership & Alignment
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total beneficial ownership (Pierre D. Alexus) | 0 shares reported; <1% | |
| Ownership guidelines | Not disclosed | — |
| Equity awards outstanding (company officers at 12/31/2024) | None outstanding for NEOs | |
| Shares available under 2020 Stock Incentive Plan (12/31/2024) | 691,399 shares remaining available | |
| Hedging/Pledging | Hedging/monetization transactions prohibited; pledging policy not disclosed |
Insider selling pressure assessment:
- No reported equity holdings or outstanding awards for Alexus; minimal mechanical selling pressure absent new equity grants .
Employment Terms
| Provision | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Start date | March 31, 2025 (CEO appointment approved Mar 18, 2025) | |
| Term/Notice | Indefinite; 12 months’ notice by either party | |
| Severance | No contractual severance | |
| Change of control | No additional severance/benefits on termination in connection with CoC | |
| Non-compete | 9 months post-termination; scope covers competing services and dealings with customers/partners; Board may limit/release | |
| Non-compete compensation | Up to 60% of Average Monthly Salary, net of new income and any severance; monthly reporting required; duty to mitigate | |
| Non-solicit / Non-deal | Restrictions on soliciting employees/customers and inducing partner changes during restricted period | |
| IP/Confidentiality | Company owns work product; strong confidentiality obligations | |
| Dispute resolution | SCC arbitration in Stockholm; English language | |
| Governing law | Sweden; managerial position excluded from Swedish Employment Protection Act (EPA) | |
| Outside engagements | Require Board approval; Appendix 2 lists approved “Board member Arkion” |
Company Performance Context Under Alexus (for alignment and execution risk)
| Metric | Q2 2025 | Q3 2025 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue from continuing ops ($M) | $0.6 (−25.2% YoY) | $0.4 (−48.7% YoY) | Legacy printer/auto infotainment weakness highlighted |
| Operating expenses ($M) | $2.7 (+5.3% YoY) | $2.1 (+4.0% YoY) | |
| Income from continuing ops / (loss) | $(2.0)M | $13.9M, aided by $15.5M patent-assignment gain paid Oct 2025 | |
| Strategic actions | Transitioned zForce to maintenance; focus on MultiSensing AI/computer vision and auto partnerships |
Pre-appointment TSR and profitability (reference baseline):
- Cumulative TSR: $92.99 on $100 from 12/31/2021 to 12/31/2024; 2024 net loss $(6.466)M per pay-versus-performance table .
Compensation Committee Analysis (governance/process)
- CEO compensation is reviewed/approved by the Compensation, Nomination and Governance (CNG) Committee; committee sets performance objectives and administers incentive/equity plans .
- No external compensation consultant retained in 2024; not engaged for 2025 as of proxy date .
- Insider trading policy prohibits hedging/monetization; supports alignment and reduces hedging-related red flags .
Say-on-Pay & Shareholder Feedback
- 2025 proxy included an annual advisory vote on NEO compensation (covering 2024 NEOs prior to Alexus’s start); company will continue annual say-on-pay cadence set by prior frequency vote .
- Voting outcomes for 2025 say-on-pay were not disclosed in the proxy materials provided .
Risk Indicators & Red Flags (observed disclosures)
- No related-party transactions since Jan 1, 2023; none proposed; hedging prohibited .
- No contractual severance or CoC parachute for CEO (reduces golden-parachute risk) .
- Non-compete with limited compensation mitigates post-employment competitive risk; enforcement via liquidated damages if violated .
- Revenue decline in legacy segments raises execution risk as strategy pivots to MultiSensing/auto; patent monetization provided non-recurring cash .
Investment Implications
- Alignment: Alexus currently has no reported share ownership and no disclosed equity awards, reducing direct equity alignment near-term; watch for future equity grants or ownership guideline adoption to strengthen alignment .
- Incentive design: Pay mix is largely fixed cash plus a capped annual bonus up to 50% of salary; absence of long-term equity could dampen multi-year value creation incentives unless equity is granted under the 2020 plan (691,399 shares available) .
- Downside protection: No severance/CoC benefits limit shareholder exposure to golden parachutes; 12-month notice period represents a cost but provides transition stability .
- Execution/watch items: Monitor SEC Forms 4 for any initial share purchases or awards; track Board/CNG actions on long-term equity; and assess progress on auto-focused MultiSensing commercialization as legacy revenues decline .
- Governance controls: Clawback policy and hedging prohibition are positives; pledging policy not disclosed—an item to diligence further .