Kodiak AI boosts exec pay and grants major RSUs
Rhea-AI Filing Summary
Kodiak AI, Inc. updated compensation for its top executives. Effective July 1, 2026, CEO Don Burnette’s base salary increases from $425,000 to $525,000, and his annual bonus opportunity rises from 80% to 100% of base salary. CFO Surajit Datta and COO Michael Wiesinger each see base salary increases from $400,000 to $450,000.
The Compensation Committee also approved time‑based restricted stock unit grants under the 2025 Equity Incentive Plan with intended grant-date values of $7,000,000 for Burnette and $2,500,000 each for Datta and Wiesinger, vesting quarterly over four years with a six‑month cliff and continued service requirements.
Separately, the company and Datta agreed to cancel a stock option for 2,035,915 shares at an exercise price of $8.88 per share granted in August 2025. In consideration, Datta receives 563,063 time‑based RSUs vesting quarterly over four years from the original option vesting start date, subject to a one‑year cliff and continued service.
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Insights
Kodiak AI rebalances executive pay toward stock-based incentives.
Kodiak AI increases cash pay for its CEO, CFO, and COO while layering in sizable restricted stock unit (RSU) grants. RSUs vest over four years with cliffs, tying a large portion of compensation to ongoing employment and future share performance.
The cancellation of Surajit Datta’s option for 2,035,915 shares at an $8.88 exercise price in exchange for 563,063 RSUs shifts his equity package from leveraged options to full‑value shares. This reduces strike‑price risk for the executive and may alter potential dilution patterns relative to the original option.
These are governance and incentive-structure changes rather than operational developments. Their practical impact will emerge over the four‑year vesting periods as equity awards expense through the income statement and as any vested shares enter the company’s share base.
8-K Event Classification
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Key Terms
restricted stock units financial
vesting cliff financial
2025 Equity Incentive Plan financial
emerging growth company regulatory
time-based option financial
FAQ
How did Kodiak AI (KDK) change its CEO compensation in July 2026?
What salary increases did Kodiak AI (KDK) approve for its CFO and COO?
What RSU grants did Kodiak AI (KDK) award to its top executives?
Why did Kodiak AI (KDK) cancel Surajit Datta’s stock option and what replaced it?
How do the new RSUs for Kodiak AI (KDK) executives vest over time?
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.