Adena T. Friedman is the President and CEO of Nasdaq, Inc. Since officially taking the reins in January 2017, she has been driving the company’s growth and innovation in the financial markets. With a career that started back in 1993...

Adena T. Friedman is the President and CEO of Nasdaq, Inc. Since officially taking the reins in January 2017, she has been driving the company’s growth and innovation in the financial markets. With a career that started back in 1993 at Nasdaq, she has worn many hats, including Chief Financial Officer and head of Corporate Strategy. Friedman has a strong background in finance, showcased by her leadership roles in major strategic moves, such as the acquisition of OMX AB. Her performance-driven approach is evident in her compensation structure that significantly ties executive pay to meeting specific goals, aligning well with Nasdaq’s overall objectives. Notably, in 2021, her total compensation reached a staggering $18.4 million, showcasing her impact on the company. Outside of her role, Adena has consistently made substantial stock trades; her holdings peaked at over $200 million in September 2024, indicating her confidence in Nasdaq's trajectory.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Nasdaq, Inc. CEOs

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Adena T. Friedman

CEO of Nasdaq, Inc.

Education

MBA from Vanderbilt University

Field of Expertise

Finance & Banking - Finance

Sector of Economy

Financial Services

Born

January 1, 1969 - 56 years ago

CEO of Nasdaq, Inc. for

8 years 3 months (Jan 2017 - Present)

Previous Experience

Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director at The Carlyle Group

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Adena T. Friedman

M

Raymond W. McDaniel, Jr.

CEO of Moody's

2021 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$900.00K

Bonus

$2.21M

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$89.53M

M

Christopher R. Concannon

CEO of MarketAxess

2023 Compensation

Stock

$7.15M

Salary

$1.00M

Bonus

$475.00K

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$39.42M

B

Laurence D. Fink

Founder and CEO of Blackrock

2023 Compensation

Stock

$4.03M

Salary

$1.50M

Bonus

$7.90M

Other

$1.09M

Total Holdings

$290.93M

I

Jeffrey C. Sprecher

Founder and CEO of Intercontinental Exchange

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.25M

Bonus

$3.41M

Other

$19.80K

Total Holdings

$604.28M

M

Richard M. McVey

Founder and CEO of MarketAxess

2023 Compensation

Stock

$894.17K

Salary

$650.00K

Bonus

$1.19M

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$122.60M

M

Henry A. Fernandez

CEO of MSCI

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.00M

Bonus

$1.45M

Other

$342.92K

Total Holdings

$1.21B

Holdings

See how much did Adena T. Friedman make over time.

Adena T. Friedman’s stock holdings have seen significant growth over the years, reflecting her confidence and success at Nasdaq. Starting in 2019, her holdings surged from $44 million to remarkable peaks exceeding $200 million by September 2024. This impressive rise...

Adena T. Friedman’s stock holdings have seen significant growth over the years, reflecting her confidence and success at Nasdaq. Starting in 2019, her holdings surged from $44 million to remarkable peaks exceeding $200 million by September 2024. This impressive rise demonstrates her strategic vision and commitment to the company, as she has consistently participated in the growth of Nasdaq’s stock. Notably, her holdings have fluctuated significantly, showing a robust performance aligned with Nasdaq's growth in the finance sector. This speaks volumes about her belief in the company's potential and her personal investment in its success. Overall, her journey with Nasdaq not only marks her successful career but highlights her significant stake in the company's future.

Charitable Transactions

NDAQ

147,000 shares

NDAQ

Recent Charitable Transactions

NDAQ

49,000 shares

NDAQ

Dec 13, 2021

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Adena T. Friedman.

NDAQ

41,740 shares

NDAQ

Apr 1, 2024

Received

NDAQ

266,326 shares

NDAQ

Feb 21, 2024

Received

NDAQ

$510.00K

NDAQ at $51.00/share

Jul 31, 2023

Purchase

NDAQ

47,794 shares

NDAQ

Apr 3, 2023

Received

NDAQ

468,186 shares

NDAQ

Feb 23, 2023

Received

NDAQ

13,192 shares

NDAQ

Apr 1, 2022

Received

NDAQ

192,306 shares

NDAQ

Feb 23, 2022

Received

NDAQ

49,000 shares

NDAQ

Dec 13, 2021

Charity

NDAQ

49,000 shares

NDAQ

Dec 13, 2021

Charity

NDAQ

13,258 shares

NDAQ

Apr 1, 2021

Received

Compensation History

See how much did Adena T. Friedman make over time.

Adena T. Friedman’s compensation package reflects her importance at Nasdaq and her performance-driven leadership. For the year 2022, she earned a total of $2.8 million, which included a $1.25 million base salary and a bonus of $4.37 million based on achievement of strategic performance goals. Notably, her vested stocks were valued at around $9.6 million, showcasing her success in creating value at Nasdaq. This compensation structure emphasizes Nasdaq's philosophy of aligning earnings with performance, which Friedman has consistently achieved. Previous years saw her earnings peak in 2021 at $18.4 million due to extraordinary performance metrics being met. Her pay structure reveals not just a focus on numbers but a commitment to creating long-term value for shareholders and driving Nasdaq's mission in the evolving financial landscape.

Year

2022

Total Compensation

$15.66M

Salary

$1.25M

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy emphasizes pay for performance, aligning executive compensation with company performance and market competitiveness.

Bonus

$4.37M

Board Justification

Annual incentive award payment based on the achievement of pre-established, quantifiable performance goals, resulting in a payout of 117% of target.

Other

$437.75K

Board Justification

Includes contributions to the 401(k) plan, costs of executive health exams, financial planning services, and personal use of a company car.

Restricted Stock

$9.60M(158.31K PSUs)

Board Justification

Target amount of PSUs awarded on April 1, 2022, based on performance metrics over a three-year period, with actual performance resulting in a 200% payout of target shares.

Performance Metrics

Performance metrics include corporate operating income, corporate net revenues, and strategic initiatives related to Nasdaq's business objectives.

Other Nasdaq, Inc. CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Nasdaq, Inc.

Robert Greifeld

Ex-CEO of Nasdaq, Inc.

January 2003 - November 2016