Ian Wall
About Ian Wall
Ian Wall is Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Stran & Company, Inc. (NASDAQ: SWAG) since January 2024; age 54; MS in Science & Engineering Management (Tufts University) and BA in Liberal Arts (UMass Amherst) . Wall’s background spans enterprise applications, business intelligence, and digital transformation at Bentley University, Tufts, Vertex, Biogen Idec, Harvard, and Digital Radius . During his tenure, Stran reported 2024 revenue of approximately $82.7 million, up 8.8% year-over-year, and launched NetSuite ERP in H1 2025 to enhance operational efficiency .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital Radius | SVP, Digital Transformation & Service Delivery | Apr 2021–Nov 2023 | Led CIO-level engagements and enterprise IT; managed project teams in SaaS implementations |
| Bentley University | Interim Vice President & CIO; Executive Director | Nov 2019–Jan 2021 (multiple roles) | Managed 70+ staff; supported global remote/hybrid/on-campus learning technologies |
| Tufts University | Director, Enterprise Applications | Feb 2016–May 2020 | Oversaw implementation/update/support of enterprise apps; supervised 50 team members |
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals | Director, Enterprise Business Intelligence | Sep 2014–Nov 2015 | Led enterprise BI initiatives |
| Biogen Idec | Head of Business Intelligence Strategy | Not disclosed | Directed BI strategy |
| Harvard University (HUIT) | Associate Director, Information Technology | Not disclosed | Senior IT leadership responsibilities |
External Roles
No public company board roles or external directorships disclosed for Ian Wall .
Fixed Compensation
| Component | 2024 Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base Salary ($) | 265,000 | As CIO in 2024 |
| Automobile & Cell Phone Allowance ($/month) | 750 | Employment letter terms |
| Cash Bonus ($) | 0 | 2024 performance-based cash bonus not met; discretionary bonus not awarded |
| Option Awards ($ grant-date fair value) | 7,937 | Sign-on/time-based option grant accounting value |
| All Other Compensation ($) | 8,629 | Allowances and related items |
| Total ($) | 281,566 | 2024 total compensation |
Performance Compensation
| Metric | Weighting | 2024 Target | Actual | Cash Payout | Equity Vesting Mechanics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sales | 10% | $87,500,000 | Not met | $0 | 15,000 shares vest from annual 100,000 option if met; otherwise 0 |
| Gross Profit | 50% | $26,250,000 | Not met | $0 | 15,000 shares vest from annual 100,000 option if met; otherwise 0 |
| Net Profit | 40% | $1,312,500 | Not met | $0 | 15,000 shares vest if met; plus 25,000 at 125% and 30,000 at 150% of net profit target; otherwise 0 |
- Bonus formula: Each metric’s weight multiplied by 5%, 20%, 30%, or 40% of base salary at 95%, 100%, 110%, or 120% attainment; maximum aggregate cash bonus equals 40% of base salary if all metrics hit 120% .
- 2024 performance targets under Wall’s plan were determined “not met in any respect”; he may receive a discretionary bonus at CEO/Comp Committee discretion, but no such award is disclosed for 2024 .
Equity Ownership & Alignment
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Beneficial Ownership (shares) | 10,000 (consists of shares issuable upon exercise of options within 60 days of July 9, 2025) |
| Ownership % of Outstanding | Less than 1% (asterisked in proxy table) |
| Options – Time-based (grant Jan 29, 2024) | 15,000 at $1.46 exercise price; 5,000 vested at grant, 5,000 vested on Jan 2, 2025, 5,000 scheduled for Jan 2, 2026; expiration 1/1/2034 |
| Options – Performance-based (annual) | Up to 100,000 per year; vesting tied to Sales, Gross Profit, Net Profit thresholds; 2024 unvested due to target non-attainment |
| Exercisable vs Unexercisable (12/31/2024) | 5,000 exercisable; 10,000 unexercisable |
| Hedging/Pledging | Company policy prohibits short sales, hedging, and pledging without pre-approval; no pledges by Wall disclosed |
| Ownership Guidelines | No executive stock ownership guidelines disclosed for executives |
Employment Terms
| Term | Disclosure |
|---|---|
| Agreement & Start | Employment letter dated Dec 11, 2023; CIO since Jan 2024 |
| Base Salary | $265,000 initial; reviewed annually |
| Annual Cash Bonus | Weighted 10% Sales, 50% Gross Profit, 40% Net Profit; payout tiers at 95/100/110/120% target; discretionary bonus possible with CEO/Comp Committee approval |
| Annual Option Bonus | 100,000-share option each year, vesting per metric attainment: 15k for Sales, 15k for Gross Profit, 15k for Net Profit; plus 25k at 125% Net Profit and 30k at 150% Net Profit |
| Sign-on Option | 15,000 shares at $1.46; time-based vesting (one-third at grant; remaining thirds on Jan 2, 2025 and Jan 2, 2026) |
| Severance | If terminated without Cause: 4 months’ salary during first year; 2 months’ salary during second year |
| Benefits | Health, dental, life, disability, retirement; unlimited vacation (with notice/approval); monthly auto/phone allowance up to $750 |
| Restrictive Covenants | Non-solicitation; standard non-disclosure; no non-compete in employment letter |
| Indemnification/D&O | Standard indemnification agreement; covered by D&O insurance |
| Change-in-Control | No specific CIC severance; Plan permits administrator discretion to accelerate vesting upon change in control |
Investment Implications
- Pay-for-performance alignment: Wall’s 2024 performance metrics were not met, resulting in zero cash bonus and no vesting of his 100,000 performance option—strong linkage of incentive pay to operating outcomes (Sales/Gross Profit/Net Profit) .
- Retention risk appears low near term: minimal equity ownership (<1%) and modest time-based options vesting through Jan 2026; severance protections are limited (2–4 months salary), suggesting balanced retention incentives without outsized golden parachutes .
- Execution leverage: As CIO overseeing ERP launch and cybersecurity, Wall is positioned to impact margin and control remediation; note company-reported material weaknesses including IT general controls, with remediation underway—execution success could be a catalyst for operational efficiency and risk reduction .
- Governance signals: Hedging/pledging prohibited (no pledging disclosed for Wall), and a formal clawback policy adopted in 2023 with no required recoveries following restatements—supportive of shareholder alignment and risk management .