Steven R. Gardner serves as the Chairman, President, and CEO of Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. He has been with the company since 2000, accumulating over 30 years of experience in the commercial banking sector. Gardner holds a Bachelor of Arts...

Steven R. Gardner serves as the Chairman, President, and CEO of Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. He has been with the company since 2000, accumulating over 30 years of experience in the commercial banking sector. Gardner holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of California, Irvine. Under his leadership, Pacific Premier Bancorp has completed 12 acquisitions, expanding its position in the financial industry. In 2021, he received compensation totaling over $7 million, which included a significant stock grant that underscores his commitment to the company's long-term vision. His strategic approach has led to considerable growth in the company's assets and overall performance, even during challenging economic times.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Pacific Premier Bancorp CEOs

P

Steven R. Gardner

Ex-CEO of Pacific Premier Bancorp

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from the University of California, Irvine.

Field of Expertise

Finance & Banking - Finance

Sector of Economy

Financial Services

Born

June 15, 1963 - 61 years ago

CEO of Pacific Premier Bancorp for

16 years 10 months (Sep 2004 - Aug 2021)

Previous Experience

President and Chief Executive Officer of Pacific Premier Bancorp, Inc. since 2004, previously held various positions in banking and finance.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Steven R. Gardner

U

Richard M. Adams, Jr.

CEO of United Bankshares

2023 Compensation

Stock

$609.36K

Salary

$1.00M

Bonus

$1.09M

Other

$59.30K

Total Holdings

$6.01M

C

Chang M. Liu

CEO of Cathay General Bancorp

2023 Compensation

Stock

$5.13M

Salary

$920.00K

Bonus

$784.60K

Other

$16.50K

Total Holdings

$137.68K

S

George A. Makris, Jr.

CEO of Simmons First National

2022 Compensation

Stock

$2.30M

Salary

$887.62K

Bonus

$40.21K

Other

$146.36K

Total Holdings

$26.21M

H

Kevin S. Kim

CEO of Hope Bancorp

2023 Compensation

Stock

$700.98K

Salary

$1.05M

Bonus

$1.05K

Other

$60.71K

Total Holdings

$10.60M

F

Mark K. Hardwick

CEO of First Merchants Corporation

2023 Compensation

Stock

$611.04K

Salary

$728.00K

Bonus

$369.81K

Other

$78.87K

Total Holdings

$128.69K

R

Kevin D. Chapman

CEO of Renasant

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$401.63K

Bonus

$401.63K

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$5.13M

Holdings

See how much did Steven R. Gardner make over time.

As of 2021, Steven R. Gardner's wealth is significantly tied up in his holdings with Pacific Premier Bancorp, reflecting his strong commitment to the company's success. For example, he was granted nearly 47,000 restricted stock units (RSUs) valued at over...

As of 2021, Steven R. Gardner's wealth is significantly tied up in his holdings with Pacific Premier Bancorp, reflecting his strong commitment to the company's success. For example, he was granted nearly 47,000 restricted stock units (RSUs) valued at over $2.15 million. These stock awards indicate a robust belief in the future performance of the company. His ownership stakes reached a peak in previous years, aligning his interests directly with those of shareholders, especially during the company’s aggressive growth phase. Over time, fluctuations in stock performance have shown Gartner's wealth varying, yet he remains a key figure in driving shareholder value.

Mar 18, 2025

P

shares

PPBI @ $22.14

Total Stock Sold

$16.36M

PPBI

$16.36M

478,767 PPBI shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Steven R. Gardner didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra PPBI478,767 shares worth $9.59M.
This is -41.36% and $6.77M less than what they got when they sold the stock.

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Steven R. Gardner.

PPBI

60,814 shares

PPBI

Mar 15, 2024

Received

PPBI

70,253 shares

PPBI

Mar 15, 2023

Received

PPBI

$3.24M

PPBI at $31.56/share

Dec 19, 2022

Sale

PPBI

58,218 shares

PPBI

Mar 15, 2022

Received

PPBI

47,067 shares

PPBI

Mar 15, 2021

Received

PPBI

$1.14M

PPBI at $45.48/share

Mar 15, 2021

Sale

PPBI

92,887 shares

PPBI

Mar 31, 2020

Received

PPBI

$582.13K

PPBI at $32.04/share

Nov 21, 2019

Sale

PPBI

$1.68M

PPBI at $32.51/share

Nov 18, 2019

Sale

PPBI

$1.62M

PPBI at $33.13/share

Nov 13, 2019

Sale

Compensation History

See how much did Steven R. Gardner make over time.

In 2021, Steven Gardner earned a total compensation of approximately $7.05 million, including a base salary of $944,000. His pay reflects a mix of salary, stock grants, and other forms of compensation, emphasizing performance over mere tenure. Notably, there were no bonuses or stock options exercised that year, which hints at a pay-for-performance model that ties Gardner's returns directly to the company's financial success. His compensation philosophy pushes for alignment with company performance metrics, reinforcing a culture of accountability and strategic achievement within the firm.

Year

2021

Total Compensation

$1.04M

Salary

$944.00K

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy is designed to align executive compensation with the Company's strategic objectives and financial performance, ensuring that a significant portion of compensation is tied to long-term performance metrics.

Bonus

$0.00

Board Justification

No bonus was paid for 2021.

Other

$96.59K

Board Justification

Includes 401(k) contributions, automobile allowance, insurance, club membership, financial and tax planning, and other benefits.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 N/A)

Board Justification

No stock options were exercised in 2021.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for 2021 included total revenue growth, return on average tangible common equity, and relative total shareholder return compared to peers.

Other Pacific Premier Bancorp CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Pacific Premier Bancorp

George M. Pereira

CEO of Pacific Premier Bancorp

August 2021 - Present