Lee Chen served as the CEO of A10 Networks from January 2010 until his resignation in December 2019. With a background in technology, Chen has held various roles in the tech industry, including a senior job at Foundry Networks. He...
Lee Chen served as the CEO of A10 Networks from January 2010 until his resignation in December 2019. With a background in technology, Chen has held various roles in the tech industry, including a senior job at Foundry Networks. He is known for his work in Internet protocol multicast and has several patents to his name. Interestingly, during his time at A10 Networks, he didn’t receive a traditional salary. Instead, his compensation was tied to the company's performance through stock options and grants. In 2017, when he received stock awards, his total compensation reached over $2 million—but by 2019, it dropped to zero due to his retirement. Chen's leadership was marked by a clear focus on aligning executive compensation with company performance. He is also significant for having owned approximately 15.57% of A10 Networks by the time he stepped down, totaling more than 10 million shares, showcasing his strong investment in the company's success. Overall, Lee Chen’s journey illustrates how high-tech leadership can align closely with equity and long-term goals rather than conventional salary structures.