GEO AWARD WINNERS 2023

Tom Paleka joined Gallagher in September 2008 as Vice President of Global Compensation, a newly created role. Promoted in 2016 to lead the global rewards function, he has overall responsibility for guiding the company’s equity, compensation, benefit, mobility and payroll organizations. In 2018, he was named an officer of the company. 

Prior to Gallagher, Tom had twenty years of extensive background in human resources, sales compensation, sales management, and sales operations, with such companies as AT&T, Ameritech, and Tellabs. 

Tom has served on the Global Equity Organization (GEO) Board of Directors since 2017, and was voted Chairman of the Board of Directors in 2024. He has been a member of the Executive Committee since 2022 and served as Judge for the GEO Awards for ten years, eight years as Lead Judge. He previously served as Chair of the Issuer Advisory Council for six years. He also has been an active member of the Fidelity Stock Plan Services Client Advisory Board. He has spoken at conferences for such organizations as GEO, NASPP, IBIS, CEPI, Equilar, World at Work, and the Conference Board. Tom has also been involved with Junior Achievement for 42 years, and has served on the Junior Achievement DuPage County Board of Directors for over 20 years. 

Michelle has spent the last 25 years specialising in equity plans and has held positions both as an issuer and provider.  She has experience of global plans in over 40 jurisdictions and is responsible for end-to-end processes for share plans and shareholder services.   

She is currently Head of Shareholder Services with Evelyn Partners, a unique private company that is the result of a merger in September 2020 between Tilney and Smith & Williamson, which provides integrated wealth management and professional services.   

Her previous roles include Sainsbury’s, Willis and Computershare where she built numerous client relationships, and has gained an in-depth knowledge of equity-based plans, and offshore trust arrangements.   

Michelle is also involved in charity work for Evelyn Partners, and works alongside charities such as Impetus, which acts as a support provider to 25 other charities focused on social mobility. 

Margie, Sr. Director Total Rewards, leads the Global Equity and Total Rewards Financial Compliance teams that are responsible for equity administration & communication, in all of Walmart’s markets across the Globe; U.S. Benefits’ audits, SOX controls, treasury actions and regulatory filings; she also leads the Human Capital disclosure development for the People Center of Excellence and maintains the relationships for 3rd party Compensation systems.

Eaton is a seasoned professional serving as the Director of Executive Compensation & Equity at Seagate. With more than ten years of dedicated experience in executive compensation and equity administration, Eaton has honed her expertise in this specialized field. She is recognized for her proficiency in data analytics, a skill she leverages to propel HR practices into the realm of data-driven decision-making.

Eaton holds a Master’s degree in Data Analytics, augmenting her educational background with an MBA and a CPA license. Her academic achievements reflect her commitment to staying abreast of industry trends and equipping herself with the necessary tools to excel in her role.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Eaton finds joy in outdoor adventures, particularly skiing. She embraces the thrill of exploring different destinations worldwide in search of pristine snowscapes, embodying her adventurous spirit and love for travel.