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Pacific Premier Bancorp Executive Compensation (FY24)

PPBI · Executive and director compensation, fiscal 2022 to 2024
Chief executive, fiscal 2024
◇
Steven Gardner
Latest say-on-pay support
=
May 19, 2025
Chief executive pay ratio
◇
To the median employee
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Data as of October 17, 2026Latest filing (8-K): May 20, 2025
10 filings cited on this page
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282 figures on this page: 273 cited to the filing that reported them, 9 calculated from figures it prints. See the citations

More on Pacific Premier Bancorp

Five data products on this company. Each one is requested through the developer setup page.
What changed from fiscal 2023 to fiscal 2024
The figures that moved, and by how much. Analysis of these figures is part of the Velarion platform.
Chief executive total compensation — Steven Gardner: $4,964,451 → $4,682,495 (5.7% lower)
Say-on-pay support: 82.1% → 92.3% (10.2 points higher)

Frequently asked questions

Answers drawn from the data on this page.
Who is Pacific Premier Bancorp's chief executive and what were they paid?
Steven Gardner, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President, received $4,682,495 in total compensation for fiscal 2024. Gardner's total moved 5.7% lower from the $4,964,451 reported for fiscal 2023.
What was Pacific Premier Bancorp's say-on-pay result?
For fiscal 2024, shareholders backed the say-on-pay proposal with 92.3% of votes cast for or against in favor at the meeting held May 19, 2025.
Which companies are in Pacific Premier Bancorp's peer group?
The disclosed peer group includes Ameris Bancorp, Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation, Bank OZK, BankUnited, Inc. and Banner Corporation, among others.
What is Pacific Premier Bancorp's chief executive pay ratio?
The disclosed chief executive pay ratio for fiscal 2024 is 49:1, against median employee compensation of $94,878.

Executive compensation

Every element reported for each named executive officer, by fiscal year.
Fiscal 2022
OfficerSalaryBonusStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension and deferred earningsAll other compensationTotal
Steven Gardner
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President
◇—◇—◇—◇◇
Edward Wilcox
President and Chief Operating Officer of the Bank
◇—◇—◇◇◇◇
Ronald Nicolas Jr.
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
◇—◇—◇—◇◇
Michael Karr
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer
◇—◇—◇—◇◇
Thomas Rice
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer
◇—◇—◇—◇◇
Fiscal 2023
OfficerSalaryBonusStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension and deferred earningsAll other compensationTotal
Steven Gardner
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President
◇—◇—◇—◇◇
Edward Wilcox
President and Chief Operating Officer of the Bank
◇—◇—◇◇◇◇
Ronald Nicolas Jr.
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
◇—◇—◇—◇◇
Michael Karr
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer
◇—◇—◇—◇◇
Thomas Rice
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer
◇—◇—◇—◇◇
Fiscal 2024
OfficerSalaryBonusStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension and deferred earningsAll other compensationTotal
Steven Gardner
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President
◇—◇—◇—◇◇
Edward Wilcox
President and Chief Operating Officer of the Bank
◇—◇—◇◇◇◇
Ronald Nicolas Jr.
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
◇—◇—◇—◇◇
Michael Karr
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer
◇—◇—◇—◇◇
Thomas Rice
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer
◇—◇—◇—◇◇
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 2024
OfficerAwardGrant dateThreshold unitsTarget unitsUnits grantedMaximum unitsExercise priceGrant date fair value
Edward E. WilcoxPSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
Edward E. WilcoxRSU◇——◇——◇
Michael S. KarrRSU◇——◇——◇
Michael S. KarrPSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
Ronald J. Nicolas Jr.RSU◇——◇——◇
Ronald J. Nicolas Jr.PSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
Steven R. GardnerRSU◇——◇——◇
Steven R. GardnerPSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
Thomas E. RicePSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
Thomas E. RiceRSU◇——◇——◇
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 2024 year end
OfficerAwardUnvested unitsMarket value of unvested unitsExercise priceExpires
Steven GardnerPSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
Ronald Nicolas Jr.RSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
Michael KarrPSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
Edward WilcoxPSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
Thomas RiceRSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
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.
Edward Wilcox
President and Chief Operating Officer of the Bank · Terms as described in the company’s compensation discussion · citing a 2025 filing
Severance multiple◇
Change-in-control multiple◇
Benefits continuation on change in control◇
Benefits continuation◇
Non-compete period◇
Michael Karr
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer · Terms as described in the company’s compensation discussion · citing a 2025 filing
Severance multiple◇
Change-in-control multiple◇
Benefits continuation on change in control◇
Benefits continuation◇
Ronald Nicolas Jr.
Chief Financial Officer · Employment agreement
Change-in-control multiple◇
Steven Gardner
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President · Terms as described in the company’s compensation discussion · citing a 2025 filing
Severance multiple◇
Change-in-control multiple◇
Benefits continuation on change in control◇
Benefits continuation◇
Excise tax treatment◇
Non-compete period◇
Thomas Rice
Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer · Terms as described in the company’s compensation discussion · citing a 2025 filing
Severance multiple◇
Change-in-control multiple◇
Benefits continuation on change in control◇
Benefits continuation◇

Director compensation

What each non-employee director was paid.
Fiscal 2024
DirectorFees earned in cashStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension and deferred earningsAll other compensationTotal
M. Christian Mitchell
Lead independent director
◇◇————◇
Barbara S. Polsky
◇◇————◇
Zareh H. Sarrafian
◇◇————◇
Jaynie M. Studenmund
◇◇————◇
George M. Pereira
◇◇————◇
Jeffrey C. Jones
◇◇————◇
Richard C. Thomas
◇◇————◇
Stephanie Hsieh
◇◇————◇
Rose E. McKinney-James
◇◇————◇
Ayad A. Fargo
◇◇————◇
Joseph L. Garrett
◇◇————◇
Steven R. Gardner served on the board in fiscal 2024 and received no compensation for board service. Executive directors are typically paid through their executive roles, shown above.
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.
Board cash retainer◇
Board equity retainer◇
Total board retainer◇
Board chair premium◇
Lead independent director premium◇
Audit committee chair◇
Audit committee member◇
Compensation committee chair◇
Compensation committee member◇
Nominating and governance chair◇
Nominating and governance member◇
Board meeting fee◇
Equity is delivered as restricted stock units.

Disclosed peer group

The companies this board named as its compensation comparison group. The list is disclosure; the comparison is analysis.
Fiscal 2024
  • Ameris Bancorp ABCB
  • Atlantic Union Bankshares Corporation AUB
  • Bank OZK OZK
  • BankUnited, Inc. BKU
  • Banner Corporation BANR
  • Cathay General Bancorp CATY
  • Columbia Banking System, Inc. COLB
  • Commerce Bancshares, Inc. CBSH
  • CVB Financial Corp. CVBF
  • F.N.B. Corporation FNB
  • First Financial Bancorp. FFBC
  • Heartland Financial USA, Inc. HTLF
  • Hilltop Holdings, Inc. HTH
  • Hope Bancorp, Inc. HOPE
  • Independent Bank Group, Inc. IBTX
  • Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. PNFP
  • Prosperity Bancshares, Inc. PB
  • Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc. TCBI
  • UMB Financial Corporation UMBF
  • Valley National Bancorp VLY
  • Washington Federal, Inc. symbol not shown
  • Western Alliance Bancorporation WAL

Say-on-pay history

Shareholder support for the compensation program, by year.
YearMeetingSupportVotes forVotes againstAbstentions
2024May 19, 2025=◇◇◇
2023May 15, 2024=◇◇◇
2022May 22, 2023=◇◇◇
2021May 23, 2022=◇◇◇
2020May 17, 2021=◇◇◇
2019May 18, 2020=◇◇◇
2018May 20, 2019=◇◇◇
2016May 31, 2017=◇◇◇
2015June 2, 2016=◇◇◇

Chief executive pay ratio

As calculated and reported by the company.
Ratio
◇
Median employee compensation
◇
Chief executive total compensation
◇

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Sample answer — “What is the CEO’s total compensation?”
- Steven Gardner (Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President), FY2024 total compensation $4,682,495 (base salary $950,000) [exec_comp, SEC accession 0001558370-25-004551, filed 2025-04-07]

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What this page does not include

Everything above is a fact Pacific Premier Bancorp disclosed, and it is free. Everything below is our analysis of those facts, and it is not.
Peer benchmarking
Where Pacific Premier Bancorp sits against its disclosed peers — percentile position by role and by pay element, and the ranking behind it. The disclosed peer group is free; comparisons across it are part of the Velarion platform.
Executive Compensation Report — $1,500
Written 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 — $1,500
Board and governance analysis
Committee composition, independence, director pay positioning, and the governance provisions read together rather than listed.
Board Governance Report — $499
Realizable 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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Citations

Every figure on this page is cited to the document that reported it. Select any figure to see its citation.
282 figures on this page: 273 cited to the filing that reported them, 9 calculated from figures it prints.
273 cited to the filing
9 calculated from the filing

Documents cited

  1. 0001104659-25-050656
    ITEM 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
  2. 0001558370-25-004551
    CEO Pay Ratio Disclosure · Compensation Discussion and Analysis · Compensation of Non-Employee Directors · Grants of Plan-Based Awards in 2024 · and 3 more sections
  3. 0001028918-24-000090
    ITEM 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
  4. 0001104659-23-063612
    Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
  5. 0001028918-22-000133
    Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
  6. 0001028918-21-000138
    Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
  7. 0001028918-20-000138
    Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
  8. 0001028918-19-000072
    Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
  9. 0001028918-17-000148
    Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
  10. 0001028918-16-000188
    Item 5.07 Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
Cite this data
This page is free to cite. Attribution we ask for:
Velarion, “Pacific Premier Bancorp executive compensation, FY2022–FY2024.” https://intel.velarion.ai/comp/PPBI (accessed 2026).
Short form: data: Velarion

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Positioning against its disclosed peers, the governance read, incentive design, and the CD&A alignment analysis; the full peer table; a committee-ready PDF.
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10 filings cited on this page
Method: intel.velarion.ai/methodology
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Peers Pacific Premier Bancorp discloses

The companies named in PPBI's own disclosed peer group.

Ameris BancorpAtlantic Union Bankshares CorporationBank OZKBankUnited, Inc.Banner CorporationCathay General BancorpColumbia Banking System, Inc.Commerce Bancshares, Inc.CVB Financial Corp.F.N.B. CorporationFirst Financial Bancorp.Heartland Financial USA, Inc.Hilltop Holdings, Inc.Hope Bancorp, Inc.Independent Bank Group, Inc.Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc.Prosperity Bancshares, Inc.Texas Capital Bancshares, Inc.UMB Financial CorporationValley National BancorpWestern Alliance Bancorporation

Terms on this page

Say-on-Pay VoteCEO Pay RatioMedian Employee CompensationAll companies

Free to read and cite. Redistribution or bulk use of the dataset requires a data license. Talk to us about the data license.

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}
}
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