Compensation Consultant

SPENCER FARROW

Kirkland, WA *****

**************@*****.***

HIGH TECH COMPENSATION EXPERT

Compensation expert specializing in serving the unique needs of high technology companies. Successful in creating innovative compensation strategies and developing compensation plans that support the strategic imperatives and tactical goals of companies operating in fast moving, fiercely competitive markets. Worked with companies ranging from small pre-IPOs to Fortune 500 multinationals (Microsoft, ChemConnect, Adobe Systems, Portal Software, SAPMarkets, Lawson Software, Solectron, Applied Materials). Advised and influenced audiences ranging from general employee populace to senior executives and Boards of Directors. Demonstrated record of creative problem solving within business constraints and in potentially contentious situations (mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, divestitures, spin-outs).

Executive compensation

Stock plans

Sales compensation

Base salary

Cash incentives

Total remuneration

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

T-MOBILE US, Bellevue, WA 2018 - present

Sr.Compensation Consultant

Served as Compensation lead for Sprint merger integration planning.

Mapped over 2000 Sprint jobs to T-Mobile equivalent jobs, both job-by-job and by function and structure.

Managed information sharing for 3 workstreams, to ensure all shared information was judged as not competitively sensitive by outside anti-trust legal counsel. AMAZON.COM, Seattle, WA 2014 - 2018

Sr.Compensation Consultant, AWS

Provided Compensation support and oversight for AWS HR leadership, HR line, and Recruiting, on all areas of compensation.

Partnered with HR to develop incentive compensation for specialized roles requiring high-level US security clearances for emerging AWS unit providing cloud services to a high-security government organization.

Proactively monitored the competitive environment for Engineering talent, and provided leadership with fact- based insights and recommendations.

Led all AWS Compensation training, both in-person and remotely, for multiple audiences: People Managers, Recruiters, HR Generalists and newly acquired companies MICROSOFT, Redmond, WA 2005 - 2013

Compensation Consultant, M&A (2007-2013)

Advised Venture Integration HR management and business unit HR leaders on diverse compensation issues across all merger, acquisition, joint venture and divestiture transactions, with emphasis on integrating acquired employees and separating divested employees.

Created deal-specific compensation principles consistent with the business needs and philosophy of the acquiring organizations, and managed the role and level assignment processes for acquired employees in large and small transactions (Nokia, Skype, aQuantive, Ciao!, Yahoo!).

Collaborated with General Electric compensation and benefits leaders to design and build a compensation and benefit framework for the Caradigm healthcare joint venture, including working directly with Caradigm executives to finalize plan details, once those executives were named.

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SPENCER FARROW

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MICROSOFT, Redmond, WA (continued) 2005 - 2013

Compensation Consultant, M&A (2007-2013)

Developed employee retention strategies to meet the needs and budget constraints of business units engaged in M&A transactions, ranging from a few months to several years in duration, and using both cash and equity compensation elements.

Compensation Consultant (2005-2007)

Advised Compensation management and business division HR leaders on diverse compensation issues, with emphasis on providing compensation support to assigned businesses (MSN, Entertainment & Devices Division).

Managed MSN Global Advertising Sales Survey, including project definition and request for proposal, vendor selection and monitoring, progress reporting and final data analysis and presentation of results and proposed action plan to senior sales executives.

Collaborated with NBC/Universal compensation experts to recommend changes in a proposed profit-sharing for MSNBC. During the process worked directly with representative of MSNBC Board of Directors.

Led project to redesign and improve the statistical reporting and compensation information provided to managers during the annual performance review, bonus and merit event within proprietary online tool. VERITAS SOFTWARE, Mountain View, CA 2003 - 2005

Senior Staff Compensation Analyst

Advised HR management and senior executives on diverse compensation issues, focusing on global executive and equity compensation.

Redesigned company equity strategy in preparation for mandatory stock option expensing, through multiple iterations and changes in senior management thinking. Collaborated with Compensation Committee’s outside consultant and Executive Staff, as well as HR, Finance, Stock Administration, and Legal departments to arrive at final plan design.

Established compensation-oriented requirements for PeopleSoft HRIS-based automation of stock option grant process, including revision of stock option grant policies and the creation of necessary audit trail and approval record keeping process, focused on meeting Sarbanes-Oxley and internal audit compliance.

Managed annual executive salary increase event, including recommendations for increases, competitive positioning, and maintenance of internal equity.

Represented VERITAS compensation on VERITAS/Symantec merger integration team and tracked retention bonuses and severance packages offered to employees leading up to the close. ADOBE SYSTEMS, San Jose, CA 2002 - 2003

Senior Compensation Consultant

Advised management on diverse compensation issues, focusing on sales compensation and international compensation issues.

Published sales compensation plans on time for the first time in the company's 20 year history. Designed and implemented sales plans for Adobe's global sales forces, including enterprise (direct) sales and channel sales, incorporating input from stakeholders in diverse functions. Included designing interim sales compensation plans during acquisition of Accelio Corp. under very short time constraints.

Advised HR teams on executive compensation, equity, and CRM systems issues. SPENCER FARROW

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WATSON WYATT WORLDWIDE, San Francisco and Santa Clara, CA 1997 – 2002 Senior Consultant

Advised clients on diverse compensation issues, focusing on executive compensation, sales compensation, and stock option issues. Led project teams and provided technical expertise on projects of national and global scope. Recommended solutions to senior executives and Boards of Directors.

Assessed competitiveness of executive compensation for companies facing difficult executive markets, and advised on competitive and appropriate salaries, option grants, and cash incentives, including measures of executive performance.

Diagnosed plan design flaws and identified other problems in sales compensation for recently-public software company. Suggested changes to improve effectiveness and alignment with marketplace and company strategy.

Designed numerous stock option plans for large and small companies. Advised clients on dilution of ownership and EPS, institutional investor issues, handling of underwater options, and broad-based option plans. RADFORD ASSOCIATES/AON CONSULTING, San Jose, CA 1991 – 1997 Consultant (1995-1997)

Advised clients on diverse compensation issues, including base pay, cash incentives, executive compensation, sales compensation, total remuneration and stock option issues. Led project teams and acted as technical expert in projects of national scope. Interacted with line managers, senior executives and Boards of Directors. EDUCATION

MA, Economics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA BS, Economics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL

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