Katelyn Watson
About Katelyn Watson
Katelyn Watson is Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) of Talkspace, appointed effective October 17, 2022; she is 46 years old as of the 2025 proxy and holds a B.B.A. from the University of North Texas . During her tenure, company TSR (value of initial $100 investment) rose from $31 in 2022 to $416 in 2023 and was $122 in 2024, while net income improved to $1,148 thousand in 2024, marking the company’s first year of profitability as disclosed in the 2025 proxy . Her background spans senior marketing leadership roles in digital health and consumer platforms, including integrating brands post-acquisition and scaling growth marketing .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nurx → Thirty Madison (post-acquisition) | Chief Marketing Officer | Oct 2018 – Sep 2022 | Led marketing through acquisition by Thirty Madison; drove consumer growth in telehealth |
| IfOnly → Mastercard Priceless Cities (post-acquisition) | Vice President of Marketing | Feb 2014 – Aug 2018 | Led marketing; platform became Mastercard Priceless Cities following acquisition |
| Kabbage; Shutterfly Inc.; LaQuinta Hotels (Wyndham) | Director of Marketing | Feb 2007 – Feb 2014 | Directed marketing across fintech, consumer imaging, and hospitality brands |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quickframe; Galore; Fairy; Minded | Marketing Advisor (former) | Not disclosed | Advisory support to startups and growth-stage companies |
| Pixis; BonBon | Marketing Advisor (current) | Not disclosed | Ongoing advisory roles in AI-led marketing and consumer products |
Fixed Compensation
- Base salary, target bonus %, and actual bonus paid for Ms. Watson are not disclosed in Talkspace’s proxies; NEO disclosures cover CEO, CFO, and CTO, not the CMO .
Performance Compensation
| Award Type | Quantity | Vesting Schedule | Key Dates | Strike Price | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RSUs (Grant 1) | 456,775 | 25% vested; remaining in 3 annual installments | 25% vested 12/01/2023; next annual tranches thereafter | N/A | N/A |
| RSUs (Grant 2) | 74,478 | 25% vested; remaining quarterly | 25% vested 03/01/2024; quarterly vesting thereafter | N/A | N/A |
| RSUs (Grant 3) | 41,238 | 16 consecutive quarterly installments | Commencing 06/01/2024 | N/A | N/A |
| Stock Options (Grant A) | 29,235 | 25% vested; remaining quarterly | 25% vested 03/01/2024; quarterly vesting thereafter | $0.88 | 02/28/2033 |
| Stock Options (Grant B) | 17,125 | 16 consecutive quarterly installments | Commencing 06/01/2024 | $2.99 | Not disclosed in excerpt |
- Company-wide executive equity program uses options and RSUs that vest in 16 equal quarterly installments; new hire grants typically include a one-year cliff, then monthly/quarterly vesting; these practices apply broadly, with awards under the 2021 Incentive Award Plan .
Equity Ownership & Alignment
| Metric | As of Apr 16, 2024 | As of Apr 21, 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Common Shares | Not disclosed | 100,362 |
| Shares Issuable within 60 Days (options/RSUs) | 17,986 | 33,875 |
- Stock ownership guidelines adopted June 22, 2021: CEO 5x base salary; COO 3x; other employee participants 2x; directors 5x cash retainer; executives expected to comply within five years of guideline effective date or appointment . Compliance status for Ms. Watson is not disclosed .
- Anti-hedging policy prohibits directors, officers, and employees from hedging company stock (e.g., swaps, collars, exchange funds) .
- Clawback policy compliant with Nasdaq listing standards requires recovery of excess incentive-based compensation in the event of restatements; discretionary recovery for misconduct is also permitted .
Employment Terms
- Appointment: Board appointed Ms. Watson as CMO effective October 17, 2022 .
- Employment agreement terms (non-compete, non-solicit) are disclosed for NEOs but not specifically for Ms. Watson; NEO agreements include 12‑month post-employment non-compete and non-solicit and equity grants under the 2021 Plan . No severance or change-of-control provisions are disclosed for Ms. Watson.
- Section 16 compliance: The 2025 proxy notes Ms. Watson filed one Form 3 late and two Form 4s late for 2024 (one reporting two late transactions; one reporting one late transaction) .
Investment Implications
- Alignment: Large time-based RSU and option schedules with quarterly installments through at least 2026–2027 create strong retention incentives and continued equity alignment; one option grant is deeply long-dated (expiring 02/28/2033) . Anti-hedging and stock ownership guidelines further support alignment .
- Vesting cadence and potential selling pressure: Quarterly RSU and option vesting beginning in 2024 introduces routine liquidity events that can create episodic selling pressure; actual trading activity is not disclosed here, but Section 16 late filings indicate administrative process risk around timely reporting .
- Pay-for-performance linkage: Ms. Watson’s awards, as disclosed, are time-based; Talkspace’s NEO cash bonuses are discretionary, 0–150% of target based on individual and company performance, but no specific metrics are provided; no bonus details are disclosed for the CMO .
- Company performance context: TSR moved from $31 (2022) to $416 (2023) to $122 (2024) on a $100 basis, and net income reached $1,148 thousand in 2024; this backdrop may influence future incentive outcomes and equity value realization for executives, including the CMO .
Key data gaps: No disclosure of Ms. Watson’s base salary, target/actual bonus, severance, or change-of-control terms; ownership percentage, pledging status, and compliance with ownership guidelines are not disclosed in available filings .