10 Outrageous Solution Provider CEO Perks

The Icing On The Compensation Cake

The top 25 publicly traded solution providers allocated the vast majority of the nearly $118 million they spent on CEO compensation in 2014 toward salary, benefits, stock awards and option awards, setting aside just $6.1 million -- or 5.2 percent -- for "other compensation."

But this other compensation, which often takes the form of in-kind goodies or services, helps set companies apart when it comes to attracting top talent.

Publicly traded companies based in the U.S. are required to disclose to the Securities and Exchange Commission the exact amount spent on all perks for named executive officers valued at more than $10,000.

CRN combed through the filings of the biggest publicly traded Solution Provider 500 companies to find some of the more interesting, unusual or downright drool-worthy perks solution provider CEOs got in 2014. Prepare to be jealous.

Corporate Plane

Why settle for first class when you can fly in style on your own corporate plane?

Falls Church, Va.-based CSC provides CEO Mike Lawrie with use of a company aircraft. This cost the company, No. 5 on the 2015 CRN Solution Provider 500, $293,178 in its 2014 fiscal year, which ended March 31, 2014.

That figure includes only variable expenses associated with Lawrie's use such as fuel, on-board catering, landing fees and other miscellaneous incremental costs.

Fixed costs for the aircraft, such as depreciation, leasing costs and flight crew salaries that do not change based on use, were not included in this calculation.

Personal Assistants

Executives are busy people and, well, sometimes CEOs need a little help to keep their personal affairs running as smoothly as their corporate lives. That's why some companies allow CEOs to use employees' time, such as administrative assistants, for their own personal matters.

For example, George Pederson, CEO of Fairfax, Va.-based ManTech, No. 24 on the 2015 CRN Solution Provider 500, received assistance from employees on non-corporate matters in 2014 to the tune of $115,422.

Likewise, Francisco D'Souza, CEO of Teaneck, N.J.-based Cognizant, No. 8 on the 2015 CRN Solution Provider 500, used a company administrative assistant for personal matters, a perk the company valued at $7,588 in 2014.

The fiscal years for both ManTech and Cognizant ended Dec. 31.

All-Expenses-Paid Trips

Some boards of directors allow their CEOs to kick back and enjoy some rest and relaxation on the company's dime in recognition of a job well done.

Eden Prairie, Minn.-based Datalink, No. 43 on the 2015 CRN Solution Provider 500, spent $7,506 on travel expenses for CEO Paul Lidsky and his spouse to attend an awards trip that rewards employees who meet certain sales goals for the year.

Frank Khulusi, CEO of El Segundo, Calif.-based PCM, No. 29 on the 2015 CRN Solution Provider 500, got to enjoy a company-sponsored award trip in 2014, as did Ken Lamneck of Tempe, Ariz.-based Insight Enterprises, No. 13 on the 2015 CRN Solution Provider 500.

Herndon, Va.-based ePlus Technology, No. 32 on the 2015 CRN Solution Provider 500, spent $6,045 on travel and entertainment for Phillip Norton's spouse to attend a sales meeting for company executives and high-achieving salespersons. And Arlington, Va.-based CACI, No. 16 on the 2015 CRN Solution Provider 500, spent $470 so that the spouse of CEO Kenneth Asbury could join him on required business travel.

Housing And Relocation

Some CEOs have to move when they take the top job, or need a place to stay when holding investor or client meetings in the big city.

Blue Bell, Pa.-based Unisys, No. 19 on the 2015 CRN Solution Provider 500, spent $40,080 in 2014 on an apartment in the Philadelphia metropolitan area for then-CEO Ed Coleman, who left Dec. 1, to use for business purposes. Current CEO Peter Altabef, who started Jan. 1, will also have access to the apartment.

Troy, Mich.-based Syntel, No. 36 on the 2015 CRN Solution Provider 500, reimbursed President and CEO Nitin Rakesh $37,666 for relocation expenses he incurred during 2014. Rakesh started as the company's CEO on April 21, 2014.

And CSC gave CEO Mike Lawrie a housing allowance for the 2014 fiscal year.

Club Membership And Sports Tickets

Many CEOs are looking to blow off a little steam after a long day in the office. Fortunately, after-hours recreation is occasionally tacked on to their compensation.

John Marr of Tyler Technologies, No. 51 on the 2015 CRN Solution Provider 500, received tickets to sporting events as part of his compensation package. And Pedersen of ManTech was entitled to a club membership.

Physicals

It behooves solution providers to make sure their leaders are in tip-top shape. For this reason, a handful of companies are willing to foot the bill for executive physicals.

Norton received a $1,316 reimbursement for the executive physical he is entitled to as part of his employment agreement. The 2014 fiscal year for ePlus ended March 31, 2014.

Lamneck of Insight also received an executive physical in 2014, as did Lawrie of CSC.

Cars

CEOs spend much of their time on the road visiting with employees and clients and attending investor events and conferences. Many employers do their best to help shoulder the automobile burden.

Richard Leeds, CEO of Port Washington, N.Y.-based Systemax, No. 17 on the 2015 CRN Solution Provider 500, received $25,200 for auto-related expenses in 2014. Pedersen also received money from ManTech for automobile expenses.

Likewise, Lidsky of Datalink received a $6,000 car allowance in 2014. And Marr of Tyler Technologies was allowed to use a company automobile for personal matters.

The fiscal years for Systemax, ManTech, Datalink and Tyler Technologies all ended Dec. 31.

Tax Help

Some employers want to ensure their CEOs aren't worried about making Uncle Sam happy when they already have to deal with running a company.

For this reason, Accenture, No. 2 on the 2015 CRN Solution Provider 500 with its U.S. headquarters in Chicago, spent $6,960 during its 2014 fiscal year on tax preparation fees for CEO Pierre Nanterme, while ManTech also covered Pedersen's tax preparation fees.

Drivers

Some employers decided it was worthwhile to free up their CEOs' time while on the road so that they can make calls and get work done.

To wit, Accenture paid a service provider $61,820 in 2014 for a car and driver for Nanterme, while Syntel spent $12,922 on a car and driver for Rakesh.

In addition, most of the $115,422 ManTech spent on employees doing non-corporate tasks for Pedersen went toward a driver.

Accenture's 2014 fiscal year ended Aug. 31, while Syntel and ManTech's both ended Dec. 31.

Cellphone Expenses

CEOs tend to rack up quite the cellphone bills keeping in contact with associates and clients while they travel. Several employers make sure their bosses aren't footing the cost.

Jeff Davis, CEO of St. Louis-based Perficient, No. 56 on the 2015 CRN Solution Provider 500, received a $1,620 cellphone allowance in 2014.

Syntel's Rakesh received a telephone expense reimbursement of $546.

Ken Lamneck, CEO of Insight, also received an allowance for cellphone expenses.