Adeia Appoints Dipti Vachani CEO Effective October 12
Vachani’s compensation includes an $11,000,000 target equity award, while Davis is set to support the transition through December 31, 2026.
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Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Adeia Inc. appointed Dipti Vachani as chief executive officer and director, effective October 12, 2026; Paul E. Davis’s resignation from both roles is effective the same day. Davis will serve as a consultant through December 31, 2026, for a fixed fee of $183,000.
Beginning October 12, Vachani’s annual base salary is $730,000, with a target bonus equal to 100% of salary based on company financial objectives and individual objectives set by the Board; her fiscal 2026 bonus will be prorated for her active employment. Her equity awards have an aggregate target grant date value of $11,000,000: $4,400,000 in time-based restricted stock units vesting over four years and $6,600,000 in performance-based units tied to a three-year performance period and continued employment. For qualifying terminations, the planned severance agreement provides cash equal to 150% of salary plus target bonus if the termination is more than three months before or more than twelve months after a change in control, and 200% if it is within three months before or twelve months following one.
Filing Explained
Davis’s consulting period adds no equity vesting; Vachani’s planned severance terms provide conditional health coverage and equity acceleration.
Adeia says Paul Davis’s departure as CEO and director and Dipti Vachani’s succession take effect
Adeia also agreed to pay both the employee and employer portions of Davis’s COBRA premiums, provided he does not become eligible for other health coverage through
The filing says the agreement texts will be filed as exhibits to Adeia’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
8-K Event Classification
Key Figures
Key Terms
restricted stock unit award financial
performance-based restricted stock unit award financial
change in control financial
Accrued Obligations financial
FAQ
AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
When does Dipti Vachani become CEO of ADEA?
What compensation will Adeia’s new CEO receive?
What severance applies to Dipti Vachani under Adeia’s agreement?
How much will Adeia pay Paul Davis for consulting?
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers
As previously announced, on May 4, 2026, Paul E. Davis, Adeia Inc.’s (the “Company”) chief executive officer, notified the Company and the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) of his intention to step down as the Company’s chief executive officer and as a member of the Board to focus on his health and personal pursuits. On September 24, 2026, Mr. Davis resigned as chief executive officer and a member of the Board, effective October 12, 2026. On the same day, the Board accepted Mr. Davis’s resignation and following the recommendation of the Company’s transition committee, appointed Dipti Vachani to serve as Mr. Davis’s successor as chief executive officer and to fill Mr. Davis’s vacant seat on the Board, effective October 12, 2026 (the “CEO Commencement Date”).
Ms. Vachani, 53 years old, joins us with nearly 30 years of experience in the semiconductor industry. From 2018 to May 2026, she held the role of senior vice president, general manager, Automotive Business Unit for Arm Limited (Nasdaq: ARM), where she successfully developed market specific IP programs into new, high-value recurring revenue streams, helped develop Arm Total Access and Arm Flexible Access, expanding IP utilization across the licensee base, and founded the SOAFEE Alliance. From 2015 to 2018, Ms. Vachani served as vice president, general manager of Intel Corporation’s (Nasdaq: INTC) Internet of Things Group. From 2013 to 2015, Ms. Vachani served as vice president, general manager, Power, Lighting and Display at Skyworks Solutions (Nasdaq: SWKS). Before Skyworks, Ms. Vachani held various program and product line positions at Texas Instruments, Inc. (Nasdaq: TXN), ending as vice president, general manager, Single Core Processors. From 2022 to 2025, she served on the Board of Directors of Axcelis Technologies (Nasdaq: ACLS), where she was a member of the Compensation Committee and the Technology and New Product Development Committee. Ms. Vachani holds a B.S. in Computer Engineering from Texas A&M University, and an Executive M.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin.
On September 25, 2026, the Company and Mr. Davis entered into a consulting agreement, effective October 12, 2026 (the “Davis Consulting Agreement”), pursuant to which Mr. Davis will remain with the Company as a consultant through December 31, 2026, to support a smooth transition. Pursuant to the terms of the Davis Consulting Agreement, Mr. Davis shall be paid a fixed fee of $183,000. The period of service covered by the Davis Consulting Agreement shall not be considered continuous service for purpose of any equity awards held by Mr. Davis, and Mr. Davis shall not vest in any additional equity awards during the effectiveness of the Davis Consulting Agreement. The Company has agreed to pay both the employee and employer portions of any premiums required for health care continuation coverage under COBRA, subject to Mr. Davis not becoming eligible for other health coverage through September 30, 2027.
The foregoing description of the Davis Consulting Agreement does not purport to be a complete description of such agreement or of the provisions summarized therein and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual text of the Davis Consulting Agreement, which will be filed as an exhibit to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026.
In connection with Ms. Vachani’s appointment as the new chief executive officer of the Company, Ms. Vachani and the Company entered into an offer letter on September 26, 2026 (the “CEO Offer Letter”) with a start date of October 12, 2026, and will also enter into a severance agreement (the “CEO Severance Agreement”) effective October 12, 2026.
The CEO Offer Letter provides that as of the CEO Commencement Date, Ms. Vachani will receive: (i) an annual base salary of $730,000; (ii) an annual target bonus opportunity equal to 100% of annual base salary based upon the Company’s achievement of its financial objectives and upon the achievement of individual objectives to be established by the Board (with the bonus amount for fiscal year 2026 to be prorated to reflect Ms. Vachani’s period of active employment during fiscal year 2026); and (iii) equity awards with an aggregate target grant date value of $11,000,000, consisting of (a) a time-based restricted stock unit award with a grant date value of $4,400,000 that vests over four years in accordance with the Company’s standard vesting terms, and (b) a performance-based restricted stock unit award with a target grant date value of $6,600,000 that vests, subject to Ms. Vachani’s continued employment, in a single vesting event following completion of a three-year performance period commencing on the CEO Commencement Date, based on the same performance goals and measurements that the Company has previously used for named executive officer performance-based restricted stock unit awards.
The CEO Severance Agreement has an initial term of three years, plus recurring one-year automatic renewals. The CEO Severance Agreement provides that, if Ms. Vachani’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause or if Ms. Vachani resigns for good reason, in each case, more than three months prior to a change in control or more than twelve months following a change in control, Ms. Vachani will be entitled to receive the following payments and benefits: (a) fully earned but unpaid base salary, reimbursement of business expenses incurred prior to the date of termination and accrued obligations in respect of all other benefits (collectively, the “Accrued Obligations”); (b) lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to 150% of the sum of (i) annual base salary plus (ii) target annual bonus for the fiscal year in which the date of termination occurs, prorated based on the number of days elapsed as of the date of termination for the fiscal year in which the date of termination occurs; (c) continuation of health benefits for a period of up to 18 months following the date of termination; and (d) immediate acceleration of vesting, as of the date of termination, of outstanding equity awards scheduled to vest within twelve months following the termination date (or for any performance-based equity awards, (I) those with a multi-year performance period that ends during such period or (II) to the extent any such award contains performance goals measured against fiscal year performance within a multi-year performance period, those with any such fiscal year(s) that have been completed on or prior to the termination date), with any performance-based awards vesting at either actual performance achievement or the greater of actual performance achievement and target performance achievement (depending on the applicable performance goal), except to the extent alternative acceleration is specifically provided for pursuant to the grant documents. If Ms. Vachani’s employment is terminated by the Company without cause or if Ms. Vachani resigns for good reason, in each case, within three months prior to a change in control or within twelve months following a change in control, the CEO Severance Agreement provides that Ms. Vachani will be entitled to receive the following payments and benefits: (a) the Accrued Obligations; (b) lump sum cash payment in an amount equal to 200% of the sum of (i) annual base salary plus (ii) target annual bonus for the fiscal year in which the date of termination occurs; (c) continuation of health benefits for a period of up to 24 months following the date of termination; and (d) immediate acceleration of vesting, as of the later of the date of termination or the date of such change in control, of outstanding equity awards, with any performance-based awards vesting at either actual performance achievement or the greater of actual performance achievement and target performance achievement (depending on the applicable performance goal), except to the extent alternative acceleration is specifically provided for
pursuant to the grant documents. The severance payments and benefits (other than the Accrued Obligations) are subject to Ms. Vachani’s execution of a general release of claims in favor of the Company and continued compliance with the confidentiality and proprietary rights covenant set forth in the CEO Severance Agreement.
The foregoing description of the CEO Offer Letter and CEO Severance Agreement do not purport to be a complete description of each such agreement or of the provisions summarized therein and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the actual text of the CEO Offer Letter and CEO Severance Agreement, respectively, which will be filed as exhibits to the Company’s Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2026.
There is no arrangement or understanding between Ms. Vachani and any other person pursuant to which Ms. Vachani was elected as a director of the Company. There are no family relationships between Ms. Vachani and any director or executive officer of the Company, and other than as described above, no transactions involving Ms. Vachani that would require disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Ms. Vachani also is executing the Company’s standard form of indemnification agreement, a copy of which has been filed as Exhibit 10.12 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 26, 2026.
Item 8.01 Other Events
On September 28, 2026, the Company issued a press release announcing the appointment of Ms. Vachani as chief executive officer and director, as further described therein. A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: September 28, 2026 |
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ADEIA INC. |
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Keith A. Jones |
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Exhibit 99.1 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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Adeia Appoints Dipti Vachani as Chief Executive Officer
Seasoned technology executive to lead Adeia’s continued growth; succeeds Paul E. Davis, who announced in May 2026 his intention to step down after 15 years with the company
SAN JOSE, Calif. – September 28, 2026 – Adeia Inc. (Nasdaq: ADEA), the technology company pioneering foundational innovations that shape how the world computes, connects, and experiences entertainment, today announced that its board of directors (the “Board”) has appointed Dipti Vachani as chief executive officer, effective October 12, 2026. Vachani will also join the Board, effective the same day. She succeeds Paul E. Davis, who in May 2026 informed the company of his intention to step down as chief executive officer and member of the Board to focus on his health and personal pursuits. Davis has agreed to serve in an advisory capacity through the end of the year to support a smooth transition.
Vachani brings to Adeia a tremendous wealth of broad leadership experience, technical credibility and meaningful partnerships, developed over nearly 30 years in the semiconductor industry. She has deep expertise in semiconductor ecosystems, advanced computer architectures, AI infrastructure, and long-cycle commercial relationships with demonstrated success expanding global businesses into new sectors.
Vachani most recently served as senior vice president, general manager, Automotive Business Unit for Arm Limited, a position she held from 2018 until 2026, where she successfully developed market specific IP programs into new, high-value recurring revenue streams. She also helped develop Arm Total Access and Arm Flexible Access, expanding IP utilization across the licensee base, and founded the SOAFEE Alliance, which today includes more than 200 member companies. From 2015 to 2018, Vachani was vice president, general manager of Intel Corporation’s Internet of Things Group. Prior to Intel, Vachani was vice president, general manager, Power Lighting and Display at Skyworks Solutions beginning in 2013. Before Skyworks, Vachani held various program and product line positions at Texas Instruments, Inc. ending as vice president, general manager, Single Core Processors.
Vachani served as a member of the board of directors of Axcelis Technologies, Inc., a publicly traded semiconductor equipment manufacturer, from 2022 to 2025. Vachani earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Engineering from Texas A&M University and an Executive M.B.A. from The University of Texas at Austin.
The Board selected Vachani for her proven track record and commitment to innovation to build upon Adeia’s successful transformation. She will continue the focus on strengthening our technology leadership in the semiconductor and media markets, diversifying our recurring revenue streams beyond Pay-TV, identifying and investing in new growth areas, and fostering a culture that empowers our people to achieve the company’s long-term value creation goals.
“Dipti Vachani is the right leader for Adeia’s next chapter,” said Dan Moloney, chairman of the Board. “The Board’s Transition Committee conducted a rigorous search process and considered an exceptional field of candidates, and Vachani stood out for her ability to translate R&D capabilities and innovation roadmap into greater strategic relevance, new markets, stronger customer and ecosystem pull, and ultimately greater shareholder value. Our business today is positioned for continued revenue growth, led by an exceptional executive team with decades of experience and past successes. On behalf of the entire Board, I also want to thank Paul for four years of exceptional leadership and guidance; he leaves the company in a position of significant financial and strategic strength.”
“It is an honor to be chosen to lead Adeia,” said Dipti Vachani. “Adeia’s award-winning portfolio of more than 14,250 worldwide patent assets, its deep culture of invention, and the momentum the team has built provide a remarkable foundation for the company’s future. The opportunities ahead are extraordinary, from hybrid bonding and advanced thermal solutions for the AI-driven semiconductor ecosystem to new licensing frontiers across streaming, e-commerce, and automotive. I look forward to working with Adeia’s talented inventors and employees to deliver long-term value for our customers, partners, and shareholders.”
“Leading Adeia has been the greatest honor of my career, and I could not be more confident in where the company goes from here,” said Davis. “Vachani brings strong leadership experience and a history of driving growth at technology companies. With diversified revenue streams, a strengthened balance sheet, and growing opportunities in both our media and semiconductor businesses, Adeia’s future is as promising as it has ever been. I want to thank our dedicated employees and the Board, and I look forward to supporting a seamless transition.”
About Adeia
Adeia Inc. (Nasdaq: ADEA) develops foundational innovations that shape how the world computes, connects and experiences entertainment. Its inventions span a broad range of semiconductor and media technologies, including 3D interconnect (hybrid bonding) and advanced thermal management for AI datacenters, as well as content discovery, personalization, and streaming. These inventions are licensed to leaders across the chip design and manufacturing, consumer electronics, automotive, digital entertainment, and e-commerce industries. Adeia’s innovations enable more powerful and efficient products, and more immersive, personalized experiences across billions of devices worldwide. Learn more at www.adeia.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements are based on information available to the Company as of the date hereof, as well as the Company’s current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections that involve risks and uncertainties. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business, financial performance and financial condition, and often contain words such as “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “could,” “seek,” “see,” “will,” “may,” “would,” “might,” “potentially,” “estimate,” “continue,” “target,” similar expressions or the negatives of these words or other comparable terminology that convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes. All forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company’s control, and are not guarantees of future results.
Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Important risk factors that may cause such a difference include, but are not limited to: the Company’s ability to implement its business strategy; the Company’s ability to enter into new and renewal license agreements with customers on favorable terms; the Company’s ability to retain and hire key personnel; uncertainty as to the long-term value of the Company’s common stock; legislative, regulatory and economic developments affecting the Company’s business; general economic and market developments and conditions; the Company’s ability to grow and expand its patent portfolios; changes in technology and development of new technology in the industries in which the Company operates; the evolving legal, regulatory and tax regimes under which the Company operates; unforeseen liabilities and expenses; risks associated with the Company’s indebtedness; and the unpredictability and severity of catastrophic events. These risks, as well as other risks associated with the Company’s business, are more fully discussed in the Company’s filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The Company does not assume any obligation to publicly provide revisions or updates to any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws.
Contacts
Adeia Investor Relations
Chris Chaney
IR@adeia.com
Adeia Media Relations
Anna Enerio
marketing@adeia.com