F. Thomson Leighton is the CEO of Akamai Technologies, where he has played a pivotal role since becoming the Chief Executive Officer in 2013. Before that, he was the Chief Scientist and a founding member of the company since 1998....

F. Thomson Leighton is the CEO of Akamai Technologies, where he has played a pivotal role since becoming the Chief Executive Officer in 2013. Before that, he was the Chief Scientist and a founding member of the company since 1998. Dr. Leighton holds a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he has also been a professor since 1982, demonstrating his deep expertise in engineering. He has a unique compensation structure that reflects his commitment to Akamai; his base salary has been a mere $1, emphasizing performance-based bonuses instead. In 2022, his total compensation was over $16 million, primarily coming from significant stock awards that vested based on the company’s performance. Interesting to note, he made substantial insider stock trades, indicating his belief in the company’s future, with share values reaching as high as $278.53 million recently. Leighton’s strategy focuses on aligning executive pay with performance and shareholder interests, aiming for long-term growth. His approach combines practicality with a strong foundation in mathematics, making him a noteworthy leader in the tech industry.