Christopher Young
QUALCOMM INC/DEAbout Christopher D. Young
Christopher D. Young joined Qualcomm’s Board on May 12, 2025 and serves on the HR and Compensation Committee. He previously was EVP of Business Development, Strategy, and Ventures at Microsoft (2020–Jan 2025) and CEO of McAfee (2017–2020), with earlier senior roles at Intel, Cisco, RSA and VMware. He holds a BA in Public Policy from Princeton and an MBA from Harvard Business School, and is currently CEO and a director of Vertex, Inc. (since Nov 2025) and a director at American Express, where he chairs the Nominating, Governance & Public Responsibility Committee .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | EVP, Business Development, Strategy & Ventures | Nov 2020 – Jan 2025 | Led major partnerships and venture investments |
| McAfee, LLC | Chief Executive Officer | 2017 – 2020 | Led spin-out from Intel; global cybersecurity leadership |
| Intel Security Group | SVP & GM | Pre-2017 | Drove McAfee carve-out from Intel |
| Cisco, RSA (EMC), VMware | Senior leadership roles | Various | Security, end-user computing leadership |
| Cyveillance | Co-founder | Late 1990s | Early cyber intelligence entrepreneurship |
External Roles
| Company | Role | Since | Committee/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| American Express | Director; Chair, Nominating, Governance & Public Responsibility | 2018 | Governance leadership and national security expertise |
| Vertex, Inc. | President & CEO; Director | Nov 2025 | Operating CEO role alongside Qualcomm directorship |
| Qualcomm | Director; Member, HR & Compensation Committee | May 2025 | Board and HR & Compensation Committee service |
Board Governance
- Committee assignments: HR & Compensation Committee (appointed May 12, 2025) .
- Committee independence: All HR & Compensation Committee members must be independent directors under NASDAQ Rule 5605; the committee is composed solely of independent, non‑employee directors .
- Meeting cadence and attendance norms: Board held 8 meetings in FY2024; average director attendance was 98% and all directors met ≥75% attendance; independent director executive sessions are led by the Chair .
Fixed Compensation
| Element | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Annual cash retainer (U.S. resident) | $100,000 | Paid quarterly in arrears; non‑U.S. resident retainer $120,000 |
| Audit Committee chair/member | $40,000 / $15,000 | Annual committee retainers; paid quarterly |
| HR & Compensation Committee chair/member | $40,000 / $15,000 | Annual committee retainers; paid quarterly |
| Governance Committee chair/member | $30,000 / $15,000 | Annual committee retainers; paid quarterly |
| Nonexecutive Chair retainer | $175,000 | Paid quarterly |
| Meeting fees | $0 for ≤10 committee mtgs; $1,500 per additional mtg | No fees for Board meetings |
Performance Compensation
| Feature | Design | Vesting/Payment | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Deferred Stock Units (DSUs) | Target grant value $275,000 | Fully vested at grant; paid in shares on 3rd anniversary (or earlier on death, disability, change in control) | Quantity set using FASB ASC 718 fair value; determined by third party (Aon) |
| Proration (new director) | Pro rata DSUs on start date | Based on months until next annual meeting | Applies for mid‑year appointments |
| Elective DSUs (deferral) | Convert 25–100% of retainers into DSUs | Fully vested; payout at elected date ≥3 years, separation, death, disability, or change in control | Quarterly grant based on fair market value at quarter‑end |
| Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan (NQDCP) | Cash deferral alternative | Multiple investment options; elected timing/form of distributions | Annual election; 409A compliant |
| Annual non‑employee director pay cap (LTIP) | $800,000 aggregate (cash + grant date fair value) | Applied per calendar year | Equity plan feature limiting director compensation |
Initial grant: On May 12, 2025, Young received 1,748 DSUs as a pro rata award under the Director Compensation Plan .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
- Public company boards: American Express (committee Chair), Vertex (CEO/director), Qualcomm (director) .
- Qualcomm policy on outside boards: Generally limits directors to service on ≤4 public company boards, and ≤2 if they are an executive officer of a public company; Governance Committee reviews new invitations for appropriateness .
Expertise & Qualifications
- Cybersecurity leadership (CEO McAfee; senior roles at Cisco, RSA): valuable for risk oversight and information security perspectives .
- Corporate strategy, partnerships, and venture investments (Microsoft EVP): enhances board effectiveness in evaluating growth and diversification .
- Governance experience (AmEx committee chair): brings strong governance discipline and stakeholder engagement .
Equity Ownership
| Component | Status/Value | Alignment Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Initial DSU grant | 1,748 DSUs (May 12, 2025) | Pro rata for partial year; aligns pay with stock performance |
| Director stock ownership guideline | 5x annual cash retainer (achieve within 5 years of joining Board) | Only owned/vested DSUs count; retention requirements apply if shortfall |
| Hedging/pledging | Prohibited for directors; no short sales, derivatives, or pledging/margin accounts | Enforcement via Insider Trading Policy (Exhibit 19 to 10‑K) |
Governance Assessment
-
Positives:
- HR & Compensation Committee membership, with committee independence requirements under NASDAQ Rule 5605, supports strong pay governance .
- Director compensation structure blends fixed cash with equity (DSUs fully vested, 3‑year payout), plus an annual cap, promoting alignment and reducing excessive pay risk .
- Insider Trading Policy bans hedging and pledging, reinforcing long‑term alignment and risk mitigation .
-
Watch items / potential conflicts:
- Time commitments: As a sitting public company CEO (Vertex) and director at AmEx and Qualcomm, monitor for overboarding risk versus Qualcomm’s guideline (≤4 public boards; ≤2 for executive officers), though current roles appear within stated limits .
- Related‑party transactions: At appointment, the company disclosed no transactions requiring Item 404(a) reporting; continue monitoring as roles evolve .
-
Signals:
- Appointment press release and committee placement indicate the Board is emphasizing cybersecurity and strategic partnership expertise amid diversification initiatives .
Citations: (QCOM 8-K 2025-05-13 Item 5.02) (QCOM 2025 DEF 14A) (QCOM 2025 10-K Exhibits: 2026 Director Compensation Plan)