Archana Vemulapalli
Paycom SoftwareAbout Archana Vemulapalli
Archana Vemulapalli, age 46, is an Independent Director of Paycom Software, Inc. since 2024 (Class I) and serves on the Audit Committee. She holds a BA from the University of Madras, an MA from Georgetown University, and an MA from the University of Pennsylvania, and brings deep expertise in cybersecurity, data privacy, AI/product strategy, and global technology operations . The Board has affirmatively determined her independence under NYSE standards, with all directors attending at least 93% of Board and applicable committee meetings in 2024 .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Web Services (AWS) | General Manager, Head of Solutions Architecture, Americas | 2021–2023 | Led customer collaboration strategy; evolved go-to-market to address client needs |
| IBM | General Manager, Infrastructure Services and Global Chief Technology Officer | 2019–2021 | Oversaw product portfolio across 115 countries and >4,500 clients; cybersecurity/data privacy oversight |
| IBM | General Manager, Global Network Services | 2018–2019 | Delivered resilient networks for public/private sector clients; cloud transformation focus |
| Government of the District of Columbia | Chief Technology Officer | 2016–2018 | Led public-sector technology strategy and operations |
| Pristine Environments | Chief Technology Officer | 2011–2016 | Technology leadership in facilities services context |
| INTELLEVA | Founder & Chief Executive Officer | 2008–2015 | Built IT consulting practice; organizational design and data-driven value creation |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMD | Corporate Vice President, Global Commercial Sales | Since 2023 | Oversees global commercial sales; GTM and strategic growth initiatives including generative AI |
| AWS | Head of Product & Global Strategy, Database, Analytics & AI/ML | 2023 | Defined product strategy and global execution in data/AI |
Board Governance
- Committee membership: Audit Committee member; current Audit Committee composition is entirely independent (chair Felicia Williams; members include Vemulapalli), and met 5 times in 2024 .
- Independence: Board determined Vemulapalli is independent per NYSE criteria; Board considered standard-rate purchases of Company HCM software and Company purchases of third-party software affiliated with certain directors and still affirmed independence; no family relationships disclosed .
- Attendance and engagement: Board held 5 meetings in 2024; all directors attended at least 93% of Board and applicable committee meetings, and independent directors hold executive sessions at every regularly scheduled Board and Audit Committee meeting .
- Risk oversight alignment: Audit Committee oversees enterprise risk including cybersecurity; the Board receives quarterly updates on cybersecurity and automation/AI initiatives, aligning with Vemulapalli’s technical expertise .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | 2024 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Fees Earned or Paid in Cash ($) | $22,500 | Pro-rated service as director and Audit Committee member from July 30, 2024 |
| Stock Awards ($) | $117,484 | Mid-term director RSAs under 2023 LTIP; partial award based on appointment timing |
| Total ($) | $139,984 | Sum of cash and stock awards |
| Unvested RSAs (#) at 12/31/2024 | 710 | Director RSAs typically cliff-vest on 7th day after first anniversary of the annual meeting, subject to continued service |
Director cash fee schedule (context):
| Role | Annual Cash ($) | 2024 Program Terms |
|---|---|---|
| Non-employee Director | $75,000 | Paid quarterly |
| Audit Committee Chair | $30,000 | Paid quarterly |
| Audit Committee Member | $15,000 | Paid quarterly |
| Compensation Committee Chair | $23,000 | Paid quarterly |
| Compensation Committee Member | $13,000 | Paid quarterly |
| Nominating & Governance Chair | $15,000 | Paid quarterly |
| Nominating & Governance Member | $10,000 | Paid quarterly |
| Lead Independent Director premium | $25,000 | Paid quarterly |
| Director Equity Compensation (standard annual grant) | $235,000 RSAs (FMV at grant) | Cliff-vest 7th day after first anniversary of annual meeting |
Performance Compensation
| Performance-Tied Component | Metric | Payout Mechanics |
|---|---|---|
| None disclosed for non-employee directors | N/A | Director equity is time-based RSAs; no performance metrics disclosed |
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Company | Role | Committee Roles | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| None disclosed | N/A | N/A | Proxy biography lists executive roles, not other current public-company directorships |
- Compensation Committee interlocks: None disclosed for 2024 (no Paycom officer served on another company’s board/comp committee where a reciprocal interlock existed) .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Cybersecurity & Data Privacy: Led IBM Global Network Services; delivered resilient networks and cloud transformation with privacy-compliance focus .
- AI/Product Strategy: At AMD, oversees GTM and growth initiatives including generative AI; at AWS, led product and global strategy in data/analytics/AI .
- Global Operations: IBM Infrastructure Services CTO oversaw global product portfolio across 115 countries and 4,500+ clients .
- Education: BA (University of Madras), MA (Georgetown University), MA (University of Pennsylvania) .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares Beneficially Owned | % of Outstanding | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archana Vemulapalli | 710 | <1% | Footnote indicates unvested restricted stock |
Vested vs unvested:
| Category | Shares |
|---|---|
| Unvested RSAs (12/31/2024) | 710 |
Ownership alignment & policy:
- Director Stock Ownership Guidelines: Minimum ownership equal to 5x annual cash compensation (excluding committee premiums); legacy directors by 9/25/2026; new directors within 5 years of appointment; as of 3/12/2025, each non-employee director met or is expected to meet within applicable period .
- Insider Trading Policy: Pre-clearance required for any hedging or similar transactions at least two weeks prior, with justification; compliance monitored by Legal .
- Section 16 compliance: No delinquent filings disclosed for directors in 2024; one late filing was by Mr. Smith (CIO) .
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: Vemulapalli’s cybersecurity/data privacy and AI/product strategy expertise is well-aligned with Audit Committee oversight of financial reporting, risk, and cybersecurity; quarterly Board oversight of cybersecurity and automation/AI provides structured engagement .
- Independence and conflicts: The Board reaffirmed her independence after reviewing potential transactions/relationships (including Company purchases of third-party software linked to directors); no related-party transactions disclosed involving Vemulapalli .
- Attendance/engagement: Strong attendance culture (≥93% for all directors) and regular executive sessions of independent directors/committee chairs underpin independent oversight; stockholder engagement includes independent directors in stewardship meetings, enhancing investor confidence .
- Compensation alignment: Director pay mix balances cash and equity; equity as time-based RSAs promotes long-term alignment under explicit ownership guidelines (5x cash compensation) with compliance timelines disclosed .
- Red flags: None specific to Vemulapalli disclosed; no Section 16 delinquency; no pledging disclosed; Board limits on overboarding with stricter thresholds for executive-officers of public companies (≤2 boards including Paycom) mitigates time-commitment risks; compliance affirmed in annual review .