[US] Oregon tech CEO secures record-breaking $94m salary

In the US, an Oregon-based tech company has smashed state records with the enormous $94 million pay package it is paying its new CEO, Oregon Live reports.

Lattice Semiconductor’s CEO Jim Anderson quit in 2024 leading to the loss of a number of the company’s investors. Lattice’s stock dropped by 15 per cent in a single day, shedding $1.6 billion in market value.

When Lattice hired his replacement, it reportedly went all out. The company engaged technology executive and investor Ford Tamer in September, luring him away from the investment firm Francisco Partners with a whopping pay package the company valued at $94 million.

According to the annual review of regional executive compensation by The Oregonian/OregonLive, Mr Tamer scored the highest salary by far any Oregon company paid its top executive last year.

His annual pay is 1,300 times the $72,000 that Lattice’s median employee makes each year, regulatory filings show; the biggest gap between executive and worker pay of any Oregon company.

Federal rules require that the majority of companies disclose executive pay every year and compare it to what workers make. Lattice’s headquarters are in Hillsboro but Mr Tamer lives in California.

Almost all of his compensation reportedly comes through one-time, new-hire stock grants that become valuable if the company hits various performance targets. If Lattice thrive, Mr Tamer could make more. He will earn less if the business struggles. 

Lattice said it doesn’t expect to pay him nearly as much this year, or to give him further stock grants before 2026.

Lattice’s share price rose 12 per cent the day it hired Mr Tamer, increasing its market value by $762 million.

Source: Oregon Live

In the US, an Oregon-based tech company has smashed state records with the enormous $94 million pay package it is paying its new CEO, Oregon Live reports.

Lattice Semiconductor’s CEO Jim Anderson quit in 2024 leading to the loss of a number of the company’s investors. Lattice’s stock dropped by 15 per cent in a single day, shedding $1.6 billion in market value.

When Lattice hired his replacement, it reportedly went all out. The company engaged technology executive and investor Ford Tamer in September, luring him away from the investment firm Francisco Partners with a whopping pay package the company valued at $94 million.

According to the annual review of regional executive compensation by The Oregonian/OregonLive, Mr Tamer scored the highest salary by far any Oregon company paid its top executive last year.

His annual pay is 1,300 times the $72,000 that Lattice’s median employee makes each year, regulatory filings show; the biggest gap between executive and worker pay of any Oregon company.

Federal rules require that the majority of companies disclose executive pay every year and compare it to what workers make. Lattice’s headquarters are in Hillsboro but Mr Tamer lives in California.

Almost all of his compensation reportedly comes through one-time, new-hire stock grants that become valuable if the company hits various performance targets. If Lattice thrive, Mr Tamer could make more. He will earn less if the business struggles. 

Lattice said it doesn’t expect to pay him nearly as much this year, or to give him further stock grants before 2026.

Lattice’s share price rose 12 per cent the day it hired Mr Tamer, increasing its market value by $762 million.

Source: Oregon Live