In 2024, RingCentral’s General Counsel, John Marlow, experienced a significant reduction in total compensation, with a decrease of $4.9 million compared to the previous year. This decline is primarily attributed to a reduction in stock-based awards, which are closely tied to the company’s stock performance.
In 2023, Marlow’s total compensation was approximately $13 million, with a substantial portion derived from stock awards. However, in 2024, his compensation decreased to around $8 million, reflecting the company’s stock performance and the resulting impact on equity-based compensation.
This trend is not unique to RingCentral. The technology sector has seen fluctuations in executive compensation, particularly for general counsels, due to the volatility of stock valuations. For instance, in 2025, Alphabet’s Kent Walker led the rankings with $30.2 million in total compensation, up over 10% year-over-year, while Broadcom’s Mark Brazeal nearly doubled his prior year’s pay to $29 million following a significant acquisition. ([legal.io](https://www.legal.io/articles/5705746/2025-General-Counsel-Compensation-Tech-s-Pay-Dominance-Reaches-New-Heights?utm_source=openai))
RingCentral’s financial performance in 2024 showed growth, with total revenues reaching approximately $2.4 billion, representing a 9% annual increase. Despite this growth, the company’s stock performance influenced the valuation of stock-based compensation for executives. ([ringcentral.com](https://www.ringcentral.com/whyringcentral/company/pressreleases/ringcentral-announces-second-quarter-2024-results.html?utm_source=openai))
The reduction in Marlow’s compensation underscores the impact of stock performance on executive pay structures, particularly in the technology sector, where equity-based compensation is a significant component of total remuneration.