Jack Connell
Compensation and Total Rewards Expert
Deerfield Beach,FL
Summary
Secure employment as a VP or Director of executive compensation, total rewards or compensation in a leading organization.
Experienced human resources and compensation and benefits executive and consultant with very deep skills in executive compensation, incentive plan design, market pricing, job evaluation and pay structure design, sales compensation, HR Metrics, shared services and Human Resources mergers and acquisitions. Domestic and global experience. Consulting and corporate experience with ability to leverage best practices from many industries. Significant M&A experience in both due diligence and integration. Tremendous Board presence developed through presenting to over 500 Board Compensation Committees.
Overview
39
39
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
CEO and Managing Partner
Jack Connell Compensation Consulting
05.2017 - Current
- Responsible for sales and delivery of executive, employee, sales compensation and HR M&A and executive and employee benefits in client firms
- Work primarily with leading not-for-profits and VC-backed companies to improve ability to attract, retain and motivate top talent
- Have worked with Clarity Software Solutions, Blub Hub Capital, Partners-in-Health, Newfold Digital, and Ultimate Kronos Group (UKG most recently
- Served as interim VP of Total Rewards for Newfold Digital and Project44.) Executive Director of the Global Total Rewards Network of the Executive Network since August 2022.
Partner
Mercer
09.2015 - 05.2017
- Responsible for sales and delivery of executive, employee, and sales compensation in client firms.
Senior Compensation Consultant
Boston Children’s Hospital
05.2015 - 09.2015
- Contract position providing compensation support to several line organizations and project work entailing compensation metrics, structure analyses, and pay audits.
Managing Director
Jack Connell Compensation Consulting
01.2014 - 01.2015
- Independent contractor consulting in employee, sales, and executive compensation to companies to improve clients’ compensation programs and enable them to better attract, retain and motivate the talent they need to succeed.
Vice President Total Rewards
GoDaddy, Inc.
01.2014 - 12.2014
- Responsible for worldwide compensation and benefits for $1.5B, 5,000 employee private-equity-backed internet services company preparing for an IPO
- Developed and secured approval for first compensation strategy for company
- Significantly increased pay-for-performance focus within the company
- Developed and implemented the company’s first compensation structure, including new market-based levels, job codes, and career bands
- Improved new hire offer process and the attraction and retention of key employees
- Put benefits out for bid as incumbent had been in place many years
- New provider saved company $1M in first year
- Prepared company for life as a public entity by designing and implementing post-IPO ESPP and 401(k) match with company stock as well as RSU’s in an omnibus stock plan and the company’s first “refresh” stock program
- Successfully implemented Workday
- Resigned after one-year due to requested forced relocation shortly after my second marriage and ex-wife said she was not moving.
Vice President Compensation
Avid Technology
01.2013 - 01.2014
- Managed worldwide compensation for this $600M in revenue audio and video editing software company
- Managed sales, executive and employee compensation programs for the company
- Developed a new stock option delivery algorithm for the company that managed the “burn rate” and leveraged awards based on performance
- Led Workday implementation
- Resigned after one year due to company being de-listed from NASDAQ stock exchange due to CEO and CFO improprieties that led to not being able to grant stock.
Founder and Managing Director
Connell & Partners, Inc.
04.2005 - 09.2013
- Founder and CEO of highly successful independent compensation consulting boutique firm
- Focused on human capital-intensive industries such as high technology, life sciences, financial services and alternative energy and financial services including IBM, USAA, Amica, Life Technologies, Hologic, ThermoFisher, EnerNOC and VistaPrint
- Grew firm to over $3.5M in revenues with $1M in profitability and 20 employees
- Developed many great staff members that are now in compensation and HR executive positions in both corporate and consulting roles
- Ranked the #1 firm in pay for performance my leveraging the link between executive pay and firm performance
- Executed sale of the company to Arthur J
- Gallagher, a $1.5B public company
- Acknowledged industry thought-leader through the publication of many leading studies (Tech100, LifeScience100, S&P500) and articles
- Never missed a client deadline or exceeded budget and became known as the “pay-for-performance” firm within the industry.
Sr. Vice President of Human Resources
Geac Computer
01.2004 - 01.2005
- Reported to the CEO and headed the HR function for $500M, publicly traded legacy software company, until its sale to a private-equity firm
- Restructured compensation at both the executive and employee levels by freezing salaries and implementing new bonus plans
- Recruited new senior executives who assisted in the ultimate sale of the company and exited others to prepare for sale of the business
- Developed HR Metrics report that was used by the CEO and Senior Executive team to manage the business
- Designed an entirely new sales compensation plan that drove increased revenue growth.
SVP and Managing Director and National High Technology and Life Science Practice Leader
Pearl Meyer and Partners
01.2001 - 01.2004
- Responsible for revenue generation and client delivery of compensation consulting services in this leading national boutique
- Headed the firm’s Human Capital Intensive (primarily high technology and life sciences with some investment management) practice arena and generated over $3M/year in revenues
- Led a team of ten Managing Consultants, Consultants and Analysts in support of this role
- The revenues I produced helped my team achieve its’ earn-out
- Brought in over 50 new clients to the firm.
SVP and East Coast Practice Leader
iQuantic
01.1998 - 01.2001
- Led the development of the East Coast Practice for iQuantic, a leading compensation consulting boutique firm, which specialized in working with high technology and life science companies including many preparing for IPO
- Worked with over 100 companies that went public through IPO during this timeframe, including most of the leading IPO’s on the East Coast
- Built a $2.5M personal book of business and a $12.5M East Coast Practice, that contributed significantly to the firm’s sale to Buck Consultants in 2001
- Managed staff of 14 including three Managing Directors, three Managing Consultants and eight analysts/consultants.
SVP and Executive Compensation Leader
the Wilson Group
01.1996 - 01.1998
- Built Executive Compensation Practice for this boutique which had previously specialized in alternative reward systems
- Tripled the revenues of the firm from $1.2M to $3.5M in less than two years.
Director, Corporate Compensation, Benefits, and HR Systems
Avid Technology
01.1993 - 02.1997
- Reported to the SVP of HR, led the corporate compensation, benefits, and HRIS functions for this $1B public computer hardware and software company.
- Improved project efficiency with strategic planning, resource allocation, and time management practices.
- Developed high-performing teams by providing mentorship, guidance, and opportunities for professional growth.
Director, Corporate Compensation, Benefits and HRIS
Stratus Computer
02.1990 - 01.1993
- Reported to the VP of HR, led the corporate compensation, benefits, and HRIS functions for this $600M public computer hardware and company.
- Increased company revenue by streamlining processes and implementing cost-saving measures.
- Enhanced team collaboration through regular communication, goal setting, and performance evaluations.
Director Compensation, Benefits and HRIS
Semiconductor Division, Digital Equipment Corporation
01.1987 - 02.1990
- Led compensation, benefits and HRIS function for this highly successful and rapidly growing division of Digital.
- Youngest Director in the history of this 100,000 employee corproation.
- Conceptualized the first total compensation survey in the US and funded its development.
Sr. Compensation Consultant, Executive Compensation
Data General Corporation
09.1984 - 01.1987
- Member of an elite corporate compensation team that included several individuals who became industry icons
- Developed first automated salary planning tool and process, corporate bonus plan, stock plan algorithm, and automated compensation survey data submission process.
- Redesigned executive bonus plan to drive increased performance.
Education
MBA - Human Resources Management
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI05.1984
Bachelor of Arts - Economics
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI05.1982
Skills
- Executive Compensation
- Incentive Plan Design
- Market Pricing
- Job Evaluation
- Pay Structure Design
- Sales Compensation
- HR Metrics
- Shared Services
- Mergers and Acquisitions
Certification
Certified Compensation Professional (CCP)
Speaking And Teaching Experience
True
Publications
Author of over 50 published articles
Timeline
CEO and Managing Partner
Jack Connell Compensation Consulting
05.2017 - Current
Partner
Mercer
09.2015 - 05.2017
Senior Compensation Consultant
Boston Children’s Hospital
05.2015 - 09.2015
Managing Director
Jack Connell Compensation Consulting
01.2014 - 01.2015
Vice President Total Rewards
GoDaddy, Inc.
01.2014 - 12.2014
Vice President Compensation
Avid Technology
01.2013 - 01.2014
Founder and Managing Director
Connell & Partners, Inc.
04.2005 - 09.2013
Sr. Vice President of Human Resources
Geac Computer
01.2004 - 01.2005
SVP and Managing Director and National High Technology and Life Science Practice Leader
Pearl Meyer and Partners
01.2001 - 01.2004
SVP and East Coast Practice Leader
iQuantic
01.1998 - 01.2001
SVP and Executive Compensation Leader
the Wilson Group
01.1996 - 01.1998
Director, Corporate Compensation, Benefits, and HR Systems
Avid Technology
01.1993 - 02.1997
Director, Corporate Compensation, Benefits and HRIS
Stratus Computer
02.1990 - 01.1993
Director Compensation, Benefits and HRIS
Semiconductor Division, Digital Equipment Corporation
01.1987 - 02.1990
Sr. Compensation Consultant, Executive Compensation
Data General Corporation
09.1984 - 01.1987
MBA - Human Resources Management
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Bachelor of Arts - Economics
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor