Balaji Sekar
TaskUsAbout Balaji Sekar
Balaji Sekar is Chief Financial Officer of TaskUs, serving in the role since August 2016, with prior senior finance leadership roles in healthcare technology and BPO; he holds an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth, is a Chartered Accountant (India), and has a B.Com. from the University of Madras . He was 48 as of the 2024 proxy and 49 as of the 2025 proxy, reflecting nearly nine years of tenure as CFO by early 2025 . During his tenure, TaskUs delivered $924.4 million of revenue and 23.9% Adjusted EBITDA margin in 2023, and then reached a record $995.0 million of revenue with 21.1% Adjusted EBITDA margin in 2024 as the company executed on AI-driven initiatives and diversified end markets .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| TaskUs, Inc. | Chief Financial Officer | Aug 2016–present | Not disclosed |
| PatientSafe Solutions | Chief Financial Officer | Aug 2015–Jul 2016 | Not disclosed |
| Sutherland Healthcare Solutions | Chief Financial Officer | Jul 2013–Jul 2015 | Not disclosed |
| Sutherland Global Services | Senior-level positions | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
External Roles
No current external public company directorships or external roles for Mr. Sekar were disclosed in the company’s proxy statements .
Fixed Compensation
| Metric | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Base salary ($) | $350,000 |
| All other compensation ($) | $13,200 (401(k) match) |
| Notes | Base salary increased to $400,000 effective Feb 2024 (committee action) |
Performance Compensation
| Component | Metric/Terms | Target | Actual | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual Incentive Plan (AIP) 2023 | Company revenue and 2H Adjusted EBITDA% grid; Committee capped max to 80% of target for executives | Target bonus opportunity: 60% of base salary (percentage) | 2023 revenue $924.4m; 2H Adj. EBITDA 24.2% | Mr. Sekar received $146,995; plan-level payout outcome = 70% of target |
| Long-term equity (granted 3/6/2023) | RSUs vest 33%/33%/34% on Mar 6, 2024/2025/2026, double-trigger CIC acceleration if not assumed or upon qualifying termination | Time-based only (no PSUs granted to Sekar in 2022–2023) | In-progress (time-based vesting; see vesting schedule below) | N/A (time-based) |
| Stock options (granted 3/6/2023) | Options at $18.13 strike; vest 33%/33%/34% on Mar 6, 2024/2025/2026; double-trigger CIC acceleration if not assumed or upon qualifying termination | Time-based only | In-progress (time-based vesting; see vesting schedule below) | N/A (time-based) |
Equity Ownership & Alignment
- Beneficial ownership: 178,448 shares of Class A common stock as of March 1, 2024 (approximately 1.0% of Class A); no Class B holdings disclosed for Mr. Sekar .
- Anti-hedging/pledging: Company policy prohibits directors and employees, including officers, from hedging or pledging company stock; also prohibits short sales, margin purchases, and similar transactions .
- Ownership guidelines/pledges: No executive stock ownership guidelines disclosures specific to Mr. Sekar; no pledging by executives is permitted under policy .
Outstanding awards and vesting (as of 12/31/2023):
| Instrument | Quantity | Exercise Price | Expiration | Vesting Schedule | Market Value Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stock options (2019/2021 grant) – exercisable | 79,628 | $30.14 | 8/5/2031 | Already exercisable as shown | Valuation reference price $13.07 as of 12/29/2023 (for RSU/PSU values) |
| Stock options (2019/2021 grant) – unexercisable | 119,443 | $30.14 | 8/5/2031 | 39,814 on Aug 5, 2024; 79,629 on Aug 5, 2025 | Valuation reference price $13.07 (RSU/PSU) |
| Stock options (3/6/2023) – unexercisable | 87,772 | $18.13 | 3/6/2033 | 33% on Mar 6, 2024; 33% on Mar 6, 2025; 34% on Mar 6, 2026 | N/A |
| RSUs (8/5/2021) – unvested | 119,443 | N/A | N/A | 39,814 on Aug 5, 2024; 79,629 on Aug 5, 2025 | $1,561,120 aggregate at $13.07 per share (12/29/2023) |
| RSUs (3/6/2023) – unvested | 30,720 | N/A | N/A | 33% on Mar 6, 2024; 33% on Mar 6, 2025; 34% on Mar 6, 2026 | $401,510 aggregate at $13.07 per share (12/29/2023) |
Upcoming vesting calendar (potential selling pressure windows):
- Aug 5, 2024: 39,814 RSUs vest; 39,814 options vest ($30.14 strike) .
- Mar 6, 2025 and Mar 6, 2026: 33%/34% tranches for 2023 RSUs and options ($18.13 strike) .
- Aug 5, 2025: 79,629 RSUs vest; 79,629 options vest ($30.14 strike) .
Trading policy and windows:
- Hedging/pledging prohibited; insider transactions subject to company trading windows and processes designed to promote compliance with insider trading laws .
Employment Terms
- Agreement: Sekar Employment Agreement dated August 5, 2021; at-will employment .
- Base salary/bonus eligibility: $350,000 base in 2023; increased to $400,000 effective February 2024; eligible for annual incentive plan tied to balanced scorecard and company performance .
- Target bonus: 60% of base salary for 2023 .
- Restrictive covenants: Non-compete during employment; non-solicitation of employees for two years post-termination; perpetual confidentiality and IP assignment .
- Severance: If terminated without “cause” or resigns for “good reason,” severance equals base salary plus target annual bonus (subject to release) .
- Change-in-control treatment for equity:
- 2023 RSUs and options: double-trigger acceleration if awards are not assumed/continued upon a Change in Control or upon qualifying termination following a Change in Control .
- 2021 RSUs/options: similar double-trigger acceleration terms .
- Corporate transaction context: TaskUs entered into a definitive agreement on May 9, 2025, to be taken private by Blackstone and co-founders at $16.50 per share; standard closing conditions include approval by stockholders unaffiliated with the buyer group; Mr. Sekar, as CFO, signed the Form 8-K announcing the transaction .
Investment Implications
- Pay-for-performance alignment: Sekar’s cash comp is modest versus peers, with the majority of variable pay aligned to company revenue and profitability; 2023 AIP paid 70% of target based on $924.4m revenue and 2H Adj. EBITDA of 24.2% . Equity is substantially time-based with multi-year vesting and double-trigger CIC terms, promoting retention through the go-private process .
- Retention and change-of-control: Severance of base plus target bonus, combined with double-trigger equity treatment, mitigates immediate CIC windfalls while incentivizing continuity; this reduces near-term departure risk during the pending take-private .
- Selling pressure watchpoints: Large scheduled vesting dates (Aug 5 annually for 2021 grants; Mar 6 annually for 2023 grants) can drive Form 4 activity; monitor for 10b5-1 sales or tax-withholding dispositions around these dates and subsequent trading windows, noting the company’s strict anti-hedging/pledging policy .
- Ownership alignment: Beneficial ownership of 178,448 Class A shares and significant unvested equity align Sekar with equity value creation; no pledging permitted under policy, which supports alignment quality .