David Helgason
Unity SoftwareAbout David Helgason
David Helgason, age 47, is an independent director of Unity Software Inc. (U), best known as a co-founder and former President & CEO of Unity (Aug 2004–Oct 2014). He first joined the Board in 2007, served until 2014, and was reappointed in May 2015; he is currently a founding General Partner of Transition Global (since Oct 2021) and previously was a Partner at Nordic Makers (2016–2021). He studied physics, Arabic, and psychology at the University of Copenhagen (1997–2001) .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Committees/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unity Software Inc. | Co-founder; President & CEO | Aug 2004–Oct 2014 | Led company formation and early growth |
| Unity Software Inc. | Director | Jul 2007–Jun 2014; reappointed May 2015–present | Independent director; no committee service |
| Nordic Makers GP ApS | Partner | Jul 2016–Mar 2021 | Early-stage VC partner |
| Transition Global | Founding General Partner | Oct 2021–present | Climate-focused venture investor |
External Roles
| Organization | Role | Tenure | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Various privately held companies | Board member | Ongoing | Private company boards (not publicly listed) |
Board Governance
- Independence: The Board affirmatively determined Helgason is independent under NYSE standards .
- Committee assignments: Does not serve on Audit, Human Capital & Compensation, or Nominating & Corporate Governance committees .
- Attendance: The Board met 5 times in 2024; all directors attended at least 75% of Board and applicable committee meetings during their service .
- Board leadership: Chair (Executive Chair transitioning to non-employee in May 2025) is James Whitehurst; Lead Independent Director is Roelof Botha, who presides over executive sessions of non-management directors .
Fixed Compensation (Director, 2024)
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Annual retainer (cash) | $100,000 |
| Committee membership fees | $0 (not a member) |
| Committee chair fees | $0 |
| Meeting fees | Not disclosed |
| Total cash compensation | $100,000 |
Policy references:
- Standard retainer/committee amounts: Chair $60,000; Lead Independent Director $25,000; Committee Chair $25,000; Committee Member $10,000 .
Performance Compensation (Director, 2024)
| Award Type | Grant mechanics | Value/Units |
|---|---|---|
| Annual RSU grant | Vests on the earlier of one year from grant or next annual meeting; subject to continuous service | Stock awards valued at $184,992 |
| Options | Not granted to non-employee directors (policy) | — |
Outstanding at 12/31/2024:
- RSUs outstanding: 10,493 shares .
- Options outstanding: None .
Other Directorships & Interlocks
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current public company boards | None disclosed |
| Private/non-profit boards | Several privately held companies (not named) |
| Interlocks with competitors/suppliers/customers | Not disclosed |
Expertise & Qualifications
- Founder/operator with deep gaming and interactive media experience; significant knowledge of Unity .
- Venture investing (Transition Global; Nordic Makers) .
- Education in physics, Arabic, psychology (University of Copenhagen) .
Equity Ownership
| Holder | Shares | % Outstanding | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| David Helgason (beneficially) | 7,750,646 | 1.9% | Held via Foobar Technologies ApS; sole voting and dispositive power |
| RSUs outstanding (director) | 10,493 | — | Unvested director RSUs at 12/31/2024 |
Ownership alignment and policies:
- Stock ownership guidelines: Non-employee directors must hold the lesser of $400,000 or 3,846 shares; executives have separate multiples .
- Anti-hedging/anti-pledging: Company policy prohibits hedging and pledging of company stock .
Governance Assessment
- Board effectiveness: Independent founder with significant company knowledge; however, no current committee assignments mean limited direct role in audit, compensation, or nominating oversight .
- Alignment: High beneficial ownership (1.9%) indicates material skin-in-the-game and exceeds director ownership guideline thresholds by share count, supporting long-term alignment .
- Independence and attendance: Affirmed independent; at least 75% attendance in 2024 supports engagement .
- Compensation mix: 2024 director pay is primarily equity ($184,992 RSUs) with modest cash retainer ($100,000), aligning director incentives with shareholder value; no options granted to directors per policy .
RED FLAGS and risk indicators:
- Related-party transactions: None disclosed involving Helgason; the company has transactions with Silver Lake and Sequoia (PIPE notes) but not with Helgason’s entities .
- Hedging/pledging: Prohibited by policy, which mitigates alignment risks; no exceptions identified .
- Section 16 compliance: No delinquency noted for Helgason; only administrative late filings for other officers/directors in 2024 .
Implications for investors:
- Founder ownership and independence can enhance strategic insight and alignment; absence from key committees reduces direct governance influence on audit/comp/nom matters.
- Equity-heavy director pay and anti-hedging/pledging policies are positive alignment signals; no disclosed conflicts or related-party exposure tied to Helgason.