Alan Trefler, the CEO and founder of Pegasystems Inc., has been leading the company since its inception in 1983. With an educational background that includes a B.A. in Computer Science from Harvard, he is deeply rooted in technology. Trefler's leadership...

Alan Trefler, the CEO and founder of Pegasystems Inc., has been leading the company since its inception in 1983. With an educational background that includes a B.A. in Computer Science from Harvard, he is deeply rooted in technology. Trefler's leadership is marked by a focus on long-term strategies, aligning executive compensation with performance and corporate goals. His role has grown progressively more impactful, especially as Pegasystems navigated the transition to a major player in software. Despite the large amounts of stock held and many years at the helm, Trefler has opted for performance-based incentives over standard stock awards in recent years—showing a commitment to linking his success directly with the company’s achievements. Interestingly, he has also engaged in significant insider trading, notably with transactions reaching billion-dollar values in the past few years, reflecting confidence in his company's trajectory. As of early 2024, he holds nearly half of Pegasystems' stock, a move that underlines his belief in the company's future.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Pegasystems CEOs

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Alan Trefler

Founder and Ex-CEO of Pegasystems

Education

B.A. in Computer Science from Harvard University

Field of Expertise

Technology & Engineering - Technology

Sector of Economy

Technology

Born

January 1, 1958 - 67 years ago

CEO of Pegasystems for

40 years 2 months (Jan 1983 - Mar 2023)

Previous Experience

Founder of Pegasystems Inc.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Alan Trefler

A

Jayshree Ullal

CEO of Arista Networks

2023 Compensation

Stock

$15.05M

Salary

$300.00K

Bonus

$200.00K

Other

$10.40K

Total Holdings

$3.15B

Holdings

See how much did Alan Trefler make over time.

As of early 2024, Alan Trefler owns about 40.2 million shares of Pegasystems, which gives him nearly 48% of the company. His holdings have made significant leaps over the years, affirming his deep commitment to Pegasystems. In late 2021, his...

As of early 2024, Alan Trefler owns about 40.2 million shares of Pegasystems, which gives him nearly 48% of the company. His holdings have made significant leaps over the years, affirming his deep commitment to Pegasystems. In late 2021, his insider trading activity peaked, with an impressive $5.3 billion worth of stock transacted, suggesting high confidence in the company’s future. Trefler's stock ownership indicates that he believes in the potential of Pegasystems, as he has consistently chosen not to liquidate significant portions, leaning towards a long-term investment outlook. This hasn't just been about owning stocks; his strategic authority in decision-making is illustrated by how he aligns his wealth directly to the company's performance metrics.

Total Stock Sold

$18.68M

PEGA

$18.68M

528,000 PEGA shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Alan Trefler didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra PEGA528,000 shares worth $35.66M.
This is 90.88% and $16.98M more than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

PEGA

4,589,106 shares

PEGA

Recent Charitable Transactions

PEGA

25,100 shares

PEGA

Dec 24, 2024

Charity

PEGA

1,605,503 shares

PEGA

Sep 12, 2024

Charity

PEGA

55,850 shares

PEGA

Dec 19, 2023

Charity

PEGA

43,000 shares

PEGA

Dec 31, 2022

Charity

PEGA

11,300 shares

PEGA

Dec 31, 2021

Charity

PEGA

17,300 shares

PEGA

Dec 31, 2020

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Alan Trefler.

PEGA

$9.04M

PEGA at $71.76/share

Mar 11, 2025

Sale

PEGA

$4.93M

PEGA at $78.27/share

Feb 25, 2025

Sale

PEGA

25,100 shares

PEGA

Dec 24, 2024

Charity

PEGA

1,605,503 shares

PEGA

Sep 12, 2024

Charity

PEGA

1,605,503 shares

PEGA

Sep 12, 2024

Charity

PEGA

55,850 shares

PEGA

Dec 19, 2023

Charity

PEGA

43,000 shares

PEGA

Dec 31, 2022

Charity

PEGA

11,300 shares

PEGA

Dec 31, 2021

Charity

PEGA

17,300 shares

PEGA

Dec 31, 2020

Charity

PEGA

22,860 shares

PEGA

Dec 31, 2019

Charity

Compensation History

See how much did Alan Trefler make over time.

In 2023, Alan Trefler's total compensation reached nearly $999,900, which includes a consistent salary of $495,000 and a performance-based bonus of $495,000. His focus has been more on long-term incentives rather than on short-term rewards, opting out of stock grants or options in recent years to align his earnings strictly with company performance. In 2022, he received a slight drop in his overall compensation despite achieving strong business outcomes, indicating his emphasis on achieving strategic goals rather than just financial figures. This structured compensation approach is designed to reinforce his commitment to driving Pegasystems towards financial success—an approach that resonates with both his personal wealth and the direction of the company.

Year

2023

Total Compensation

$999.90K

Salary

$495.00K

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy is designed to align executive compensation with the achievement of strategic and financial goals, focusing on long-term performance and shareholder value.

Bonus

$495.00K

Board Justification

The target bonus for the Chief Executive Officer was 100% of his earned base salary, resulting in a bonus of $495,000 under the 2023 Executive Incentive Plan, consistent with the 2023 Funding Percentage.

Other

$9.90K

Board Justification

This amount includes the company's 401(k) match and other perquisites.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 Performance-Based Stock Options)

Board Justification

No stock awards were vested in 2023 as the focus is on performance-based stock options, which are not included in this summary.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for the CEO's compensation in 2023 were based on the achievement of corporate financial goals and strategic initiatives.

Other Pegasystems CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Pegasystems

Ken Stillwell

CEO of Pegasystems

March 2023 - Present