Adam Elsesser is the CEO and co-founder of Penumbra, Inc., a company dedicated to innovative medical solutions. Born in 1977, he earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and has played a crucial role in the company's success since its...

Adam Elsesser is the CEO and co-founder of Penumbra, Inc., a company dedicated to innovative medical solutions. Born in 1977, he earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and has played a crucial role in the company's success since its inception in 2004. His leadership saw the company grow its stock value significantly, with notable insider trading peaks like $315.62 million in June 2023. Elsesser's approach to compensation reflects his commitment to the business. He maintains a modest salary of $600,000, far below typical CEO pay in similar roles, aligning his interests closely with the long-term goals of Penumbra. Uniquely, he declined additional compensation when appointed as President in 2020, emphasizing his focus on the company's mission rather than personal gain. His history includes previous leadership roles in medical device firms, which adds to his expertise in the field. Adam's leadership is marked by a focus on long-term strategies and a hands-on understanding of the medical device industry's challenges and opportunities.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Penumbra CEOs

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Adam Elsesser

CEO of Penumbra

Education

MBA from Harvard Business School

Field of Expertise

Business & Management

Sector of Economy

Healthcare

Born

January 1, 1977 - 48 years ago

CEO of Penumbra for

10 years 3 months (Jan 2015 - Present)

Previous Experience

President of Penumbra, Inc. from January 2015 to August 2019

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Adam Elsesser

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Joseph W. Dziedzic

CEO of Integer Holdings

2022 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.23M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$97.75K

Total Holdings

$34.74M

Holdings

See how much did Adam Elsesser make over time.

Adam Elsesser has a significant involvement in Penumbra, holding around 1.47 million shares, which represents about 3.9% of the company's ownership. His net worth tied to these holdings reflects the company's performance; he saw the stock value increase notably from...

Adam Elsesser has a significant involvement in Penumbra, holding around 1.47 million shares, which represents about 3.9% of the company's ownership. His net worth tied to these holdings reflects the company's performance; he saw the stock value increase notably from approximately $153 million in September 2019 to a peak of $315.62 million in June 2023. However, in the wake of market fluctuations, by September 2023, the total value of his holdings decreased back to about $253.84 million. Elsesser’s holdings showed his commitment to Penumbra, especially when he refused additional compensation during his presidential role, proving that his focus is on the company's future rather than personal financial gain.

Mar 18, 2025

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shares

PEN @ $275.29

Total Stock Sold

$162.31M

PEN

$162.31M

968,200 PEN shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Adam Elsesser didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra PEN968,200 shares worth $148.44M.
This is -8.54% and $13.87M less than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

PEN

13,400 shares

PEN

Recent Charitable Transactions

PEN

13,400 shares

PEN

Dec 31, 2019

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Adam Elsesser.

PEN

$34.95M

PEN at $283.72/share

Mar 5, 2025

Sale

PEN

$3.64M

PEN at $242.90/share

Dec 20, 2024

Sale

PEN

$3.56M

PEN at $237.22/share

Nov 20, 2024

Sale

PEN

$3.07M

PEN at $204.71/share

Oct 21, 2024

Sale

PEN

$2.96M

PEN at $197.63/share

Sep 20, 2024

Sale

PEN

$6.10M

PEN at $203.50/share

Aug 22, 2024

Sale

PEN

$3.03M

PEN at $201.91/share

Jul 17, 2024

Sale

PEN

$3.03M

PEN at $201.90/share

May 20, 2024

Sale

PEN

$2.14M

PEN at $220.96/share

Oct 11, 2023

Sale

PEN

$2.88M

PEN at $298.40/share

Sep 11, 2023

Sale

Compensation History

See how much did Adam Elsesser make over time.

In 2023, Adam Elsesser's total compensation was reported at $601,620, including a base salary of $600,000. Notably, he did not receive any cash bonuses or stock awards, reflecting his preference for a streamlined compensation structure. Instead, he exercised options worth around $16 million, showcasing his commitment to aligning personal rewards with the company's performance. Over the years, Adam’s philosophy has been to keep cash compensation modest while focusing on equity ownership. His approach has kept his salary at a competitive 15th percentile compared to peers, showing a stark contrast between his earnings and that of many other CEOs in the medical device industry. This aligns with his belief in investing in the company's future rather than taking short-term gains.

Year

2023

Total Compensation

$601.62K

Salary

$600.00K

Board Justification

The company maintains a simple executive compensation program focused on base salary and equity ownership, with no cash bonuses or other short-term incentives, aligning long-term interests with those of stockholders.

Bonus

$0.00

Board Justification

No cash bonuses or other short-term cash incentive compensation were provided in 2023.

Other

$1.62K

Board Justification

Includes life insurance and short-term and long-term disability insurance premium payments.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 RSU)

Board Justification

No stock awards vested in 2023 as the CEO did not receive any new equity grants or increases in cash compensation.

Performance Metrics

The CEO's compensation is linked to the company's performance metrics, including revenue and non-GAAP income from operations.

Other Penumbra CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Penumbra

Sri Kosaraju

Ex-CEO of Penumbra

August 2019 - May 2020