Colette M. Kress
Also at NVIDIA Corp
About
Colette M. Kress is a seasoned finance executive who has made significant contributions in leading financial strategy in the technology sector. With a background that spans several high-profile technology companies, she has developed a strong reputation for effective financial management and strategic planning.
Her professional journey began with key finance roles at Texas Instruments, followed by a 13-year tenure at Microsoft where she eventually served as CFO for the Server and Tools division. She further honed her expertise at Cisco Systems as Senior Vice President and CFO, managing critical financial operations across multiple business segments.
Since joining NVIDIA in 2013, she has played a pivotal role in the company’s growth and evolution, consistently driving strategic decisions that support innovation and expansion in areas like artificial intelligence, gaming, and data centers. Her extensive educational background and diverse experience make her a vital asset to the company’s leadership team.
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Date Range | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cisco Systems, Inc. | Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Business Technology and Operations Finance organization | 2010 to 2013 | Responsible for financial strategy, planning, reporting, and business development for all business segments, engineering, and operations |
| Microsoft | Various roles; notably Chief Financial Officer of the Server and Tools division | 1997 to 2010 | Held various roles starting from 1997, with the CFO role for the Server and Tools division beginning in 2006 |
| Texas Instruments Incorporated | Various finance positions | Pre-1997 (approx. 8 years) | Held various finance positions over eight years before joining Microsoft |
Fixed Compensation
| Component Name | Amount | Payment Schedule | Additional Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Salary | $900,000 | Annually [N/A] | Remained flat vs. Fiscal Year 2023 |
| Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) | 19,829 RSUs; $4,542,031 grant date fair value | Per vesting schedule [N/A] | Part of total stock awards valued at $11,756,027 |
Performance Compensation
Variable Cash Compensation
| Metric | Value | Additional Details |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Metrics | Revenue Performance; Non-GAAP Operating Income; Non-GAAP Gross Margin | Exceeded Stretch Compensation Plan goals |
| Threshold | $60,000 | Minimum payout level |
| Target | $300,000 | Base target payout |
| Maximum (Cap) | $600,000 | 200% payout achieved due to exceeding goals |
| Payment Timing | March/April post fiscal year | Payout contingent upon continued employment |
| Grant Date | March 2, 2023 | Grant set for cash-based award |
Single-Year Performance Stock Units (SY PSUs)
| Metric | Value | Additional Details |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Metrics | Non-GAAP Operating Income; Non-GAAP Gross Margin | Exceeded Stretch goals; additional SY PSUs (50% of target) vest due to gross margin performance |
| Target Opportunity | 27,265 shares | Base award |
| Threshold | 5,453 shares | Minimum performance level |
| Maximum | 68,162 shares | With additional SY PSUs from exceeding gross margin |
| Vesting Schedule | 25% on March 20, 2024; then 6.25% quarterly for 3 years | Service and performance-based vesting conditions |
| Grant Date | March 10, 2023 | Approval on March 2, 2023 |
| Grant Date Fair Value | $6,245,321 | Valuation at grant |
Multi-Year Performance Stock Units (MY PSUs)
| Metric | Value | Additional Details |
|---|---|---|
| Performance Metric | Total Shareholder Return (TSR) vs. S&P 500 | Measured over a 3-year period (Fiscal 2024–2026) |
| Threshold | 25th percentile; 619 shares | 25% of target opportunity awarded |
| Base | 50th percentile; 2,478 shares | 100% of target awarded |
| Stretch | 75th percentile; 4,956 shares | 200% of target awarded; interpolation applied for in-between performance levels |
| Vesting Schedule | 100% at end of 3-year period | Vesting contingent on achieving TSR goals |
| Grant Date | March 10, 2023 | Approval on March 2, 2023 |
| Grant Date Fair Value | $968,675 | Notable for MY PSU awards |
| Evaluation Method | 60-day average closing prices pre-/post- period | Mitigates short-term volatility in TSR calculation |