Paytm CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma’s Pay Linked to Profitability

The board of One 97 Communications Ltd, parent company of Paytm, has proposed a revised remuneration structure for its founder and CEO, Vijay Shekhar Sharma. This follows an independent benchmarking exercise in June 2026, which indicated Sharma’s current compensation was significantly below that of comparable roles in new-age internet, financial services, and technology companies within the BSE 100.

Sharma’s base remuneration has remained unchanged since August 19, 2022, a period during which he voluntarily opted to keep his salary constant. In the last two fiscal years, his total remuneration saw a decrease.

Key Compensation Details

• Sharma’s total remuneration in FY26 was Rs 4.33 crore.
• This figure decreased from Rs 4.5 crore in FY25.
• He voluntarily relinquished 2.10 crore ESOPs in 2025.
• Currently, Sharma holds no ESOPs in the company.

The newly proposed structure introduces a variable component for Sharma, directly linked to performance. For FY27, this variable pay will be determined by the percentage achievement of Paytm’s target Profit After Tax (PAT) growth. Notably, this revision does not include any new ESOPs for the CEO.

Industry Compensation Benchmarks

Despite the proposed increase, Sharma’s compensation remains modest when compared to other fintech industry leaders. For instance, Groww co-founder Lalit Keshre received Rs 188 crore in FY25. Pine Labs CEO Amrish Rau received Rs 9.5 crore in FY25, in addition to stock options valued at Rs 243 crore.

The Paytm board also proposed adjustments to the remuneration framework for non-executive and independent directors, based on a similar benchmarking exercise. Future ESOP vesting across the company will also be tied to performance metrics. This remuneration review coincides with Paytm reporting its first full year of PAT in FY26, reaching Rs 552 crore, and a Q1 FY27 PAT of Rs 220 crore, marking a 79% year-on-year increase.