International Business Machines Executive Compensation (FY25)
IBM · Armonk, NY · Executive and director compensation, fiscal 2022 to 2025
Chief executive, fiscal 2025 ◇ Arvind Krishna | Latest say-on-pay support = April 28, 2026 | Chief executive pay ratio ◇ To the median employee |
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Data as of October 19, 2026Latest filing (8-K): May 1, 2026
10 filings cited on this page
Method: intel.velarion.ai/methodology
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265 figures on this page: 258 cited to the filing that reported them, 7 calculated from figures it prints. See the citations
What changed from fiscal 2024 to fiscal 2025
The figures that moved, and by how much. Analysis of these figures is part of the Velarion platform.
Say-on-pay support: 92.0% → 94.2% (2.2 points higher)
CEO pay ratio: 518:1 → 765:1 (47.7% higher)
Frequently asked questions
Answers drawn from the data on this page.
Who is International Business Machines' chief executive and what were they paid?
Total compensation for Arvind Krishna, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, came to $37,989,685 in fiscal 2025.
What was International Business Machines' say-on-pay result?
The say-on-pay proposal drew 94.2% of votes cast for or against in favor at the meeting held April 28, 2026 for fiscal 2025.
Which companies are in International Business Machines' peer group?
Companies named in the disclosed peer group include Accenture, Adobe, Alphabet, Amazon.com and Bank of America, among others.
What is International Business Machines' chief executive pay ratio?
The company reported a chief executive pay ratio of 765:1 for fiscal 2025, against median employee compensation of $49,630.
Executive compensation
Every element reported for each named executive officer, by fiscal year.
Fiscal 2022
| Officer | Salary | Bonus | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | Pension and deferred earnings | All other compensation | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arvind Krishna Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
James Kavanaugh Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Gary Cohn Vice Chairman | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
M.H Browdy Senior VP and General Counsel | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Fiscal 2023
| Officer | Salary | Bonus | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | Pension and deferred earnings | All other compensation | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arvind Krishna Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
James J. Kavanaugh Senior Vice President, Finance & Operations and Chief Financial Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Robert Thomas Senior Vice President and Software Chief Commercial Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Gary Cohn Vice Chairman | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Michelle Browdy Senior Vice President and General Counsel | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Fiscal 2024
| Officer | Salary | Bonus | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | Pension and deferred earnings | All other compensation | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
James J. Kavanaugh Senior VP, F&O and CFO | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Robert D. Thomas Senior VP and Software Chief Commercial Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Gary Cohn Vice Chairman | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Anne Robinson Senior VP, Chief Legal Officer | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Fiscal 2025
| Officer | Salary | Bonus | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | Pension and deferred earnings | All other compensation | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arvind Krishna Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
James J. Kavanaugh Senior Vice President, Finance & Operations and Chief Financial Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Robert Thomas Senior Vice President, Software & Chief Commercial Officer | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Gary Cohn Vice Chairman | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Anne Robinson Senior Vice President | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
A dash means the company reported no figure in that column. $0 is shown only where the filing prints a zero. A negative change in pension value is shown but, as the company reports it, not included in the total.
Equity awards granted
Individual awards as disclosed: type, date, unit counts at each level, and grant date value.
Fiscal 2025
| Officer | Award | Grant date | Threshold units | Target units | Units granted | Maximum units | Exercise price | Grant date fair value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anne Robinson | OPTION | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
| Anne Robinson | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| Anne Robinson | PSU | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ |
| Arvind Krishna | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| Arvind Krishna | PSU | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ |
| Arvind Krishna | OPTION | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
| Gary Cohn | PSU | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ |
| Gary Cohn | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| Gary Cohn | OPTION | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
| James J. Kavanaugh | PSU | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ |
| James J. Kavanaugh | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| James J. Kavanaugh | OPTION | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
| Robert Thomas | PSU | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ |
| Robert Thomas | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| Robert Thomas | OPTION | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Fiscal 2023, 2024 are included in the PDF.
A dash means the company reported no figure in that column. $0 is shown only where the filing prints a zero. Threshold, target and maximum apply only to performance awards and are never shown for time-based or option awards.
Outstanding awards
Awards still held at fiscal year end.
As disclosed at fiscal 2025 year end
| Officer | Award | Unvested units | Market value of unvested units | Exercise price | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arvind Krishna | RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — |
| James J. Kavanaugh | RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — |
| Gary Cohn | RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — |
| Anne Robinson | RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — |
A dash means the company reported no figure in that column. $0 is shown only where the filing prints a zero.
Severance and change in control
The terms as written in the agreements.
Anne Robinson
Senior Vice President · Terms as described in the company’s compensation discussion · citing a 2026 filing
| Severance cash amount | ◇ |
Gary Cohn
Vice Chairman · Terms as described in the company’s compensation discussion · citing a 2026 filing
| Severance cash amount | ◇ |
James J. Kavanaugh
Chief Financial Officer · Terms as described in the company’s compensation discussion · citing a 2026 filing
| Severance cash amount | ◇ |
Robert Thomas
Chief Commercial Officer · Terms as described in the company’s compensation discussion · citing a 2026 filing
| Severance cash amount | ◇ |
Director compensation
What each non-employee director was paid.
Fiscal 2025
| Director | Fees earned in cash | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | Pension and deferred earnings | All other compensation | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Andrew N. Liveris | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Alex Gorsky Lead independent director | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Peter R. Voser | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Frederick H. Waddell | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
David N. Farr | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Martha E. Pollack | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Michelle J. Howard | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
F. William McNabb III | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Thomas Buberl | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Alfred W. Zollar | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Marianne C. Brown | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Michael Miebach | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Arvind Krishna and Ramon Laguarta served on the board in fiscal 2025 and received no compensation for board service. Executive directors are typically paid through their executive roles, shown above.
Earlier years are included in the PDF.
A dash means the company reported no figure in that column. $0 is shown only where the filing prints a zero.
Director fee schedule
The standing retainers and premiums the board pays, as published.
| Total board retainer | ◇ |
| Lead independent director premium | ◇ |
| Audit committee chair | ◇ |
| Compensation committee chair | ◇ |
| Nominating and governance chair | ◇ |
Disclosed peer group
The companies this board named as its compensation comparison group. The list is disclosure; the comparison is analysis.
Fiscal 2025
- Accenture ACN
- Adobe ADBE
- Alphabet GOOGL
- Amazon.com AMZN
- Bank of America BAC
- Boeing BA
- Broadcom AVGO
- Cisco Systems CSCO
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise HPE
- Honeywell HON
- Intel INTC
- Microsoft MSFT
- Oracle ORCL
- PepsiCo PEP
- Qualcomm QCOM
- RTX RTX
- Salesforce CRM
- UPS UPS
- Verizon VZ
- Visa V
Say-on-pay history
Shareholder support for the compensation program, by year.
| Year | Meeting | Support | Votes for | Votes against | Abstentions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | April 28, 2026 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2024 | April 29, 2025 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2023 | April 30, 2024 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2022 | April 25, 2023 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2021 | April 26, 2022 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2020 | April 27, 2021 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2019 | April 28, 2020 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Chief executive pay ratio
As calculated and reported by the company.
Ratio
◇
Median employee compensation
◇
Chief executive total compensation
◇
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- Arvind Krishna (Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer), FY2025 total compensation $37,989,685 (base salary $1,500,000) [exec_comp, SEC accession 0000051143-26-000025, filed 2026-03-10]What this page does not include
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Peer benchmarking
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Executive Compensation Report — $1,500Written compensation analysis
A read of the pay program as designed and as paid: incentive structure, goal rigor, the alignment between the committee's stated philosophy and what the numbers show.
Executive Compensation Report — $1,500Board and governance analysis
Committee composition, independence, director pay positioning, and the governance provisions read together rather than listed.
Board Governance Report — $499Realizable pay
What the awards above are actually worth today against what they were valued at on grant, and what the gap says about the pay-for-performance link.
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Velarion IntelligenceCitations
Every figure on this page is cited to the document that reported it. Select any figure to see its citation.
265 figures on this page: 258 cited to the filing that reported them, 7 calculated from figures it prints.
258 cited to the filing
7 calculated from the filing
Documents cited
- 0000051143-26-000043Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
- 0000051143-26-0000252025 Director compensation table · 2025 Outstanding equity awards at fiscal year-end table and related narrative · 2025 Summary compensation table and related narrative · Compensation Discussion and Analysis · and 2 more sections
- 0001104659-25-044116
- 0001104659-25-0221862024 Summary Compensation Table and Related Narrative
- 0001104659-24-057038
- 0001104659-24-0326412023 Summary Compensation Table · 2023 Summary Compensation Table and Related Narrative
- 0001104659-23-052975
- 0001104659-22-053570
- 0001104659-21-059030
- 0001104659-20-053383
Cite this data
This page is free to cite. Attribution we ask for:
Velarion, “International Business Machines executive compensation, FY2022–FY2025.” https://intel.velarion.ai/comp/IBM (accessed 2026).
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The International Business Machines brief, $1,500
Positioning against its disclosed peers, the governance read, incentive design, and the CD&A alignment analysis; the full peer table; a committee-ready PDF.
Both reports for $2,400.
10 filings cited on this page
Method: intel.velarion.ai/methodology
A report that fails to generate is refunded in full
Published by Velarion Company Intelligence
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Peers International Business Machines discloses
The companies named in IBM's own disclosed peer group.
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Cite this data
APA
Velarion Company Intelligence. (2026). Velarion database: executive and board compensation data (Version 2026Q3) [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22283854
BibTeX
@misc{velarionData2026,
author = {{Velarion Company Intelligence}},
title = {Velarion database: executive and board compensation data},
year = {2026},
version = {2026Q3},
doi = {10.5281/zenodo.22283854},
publisher = {Zenodo},
url = {https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22283854}
}