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Rob Burgess
Photo: CDMP, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons20

Rob Burgess

Canadian businessman (1957–2025)

Robert Kenneth Burgess (August 29, 1957 – December 21, 2025) was a Canadian executive in the technology industry. He was the chief executive officer of Macromedia from 1996 to 2005 and chairman from 1997 to 2005.2

From Wikipedia’s article on Rob Burgess (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Born Aug 29, 1957, died Dec 21, 2025.1

About

Prior to that, he was CEO of Alias Research from 1991 to 1995.

From Wikipedia’s article on Rob Burgess, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.2

Companies

Holdings

Stock this person has reported owning, from the forms officers and directors file with the SEC. See the biggest insider stakes.

Shares held

  • Nvidia NVDA202,843 shares13$44.8M at $220.82Jun 26, 2025

As of each latest filing. The line shows shares held over time.

Recent filings

  • Jun 26, 2025Granted 1,799 shares of Nvidia13
  • May 30, 2025Sold 50,000 shares at $134.82 of Nvidia14
  • Mar 13, 2025Sold 53,324 shares at $115.49 of Nvidia15
  • Jun 27, 2024Granted 2,088 shares of Nvidia16
  • Jun 23, 2023Granted 650 shares of Nvidia17
  • Jun 3, 2022Granted 1,438 shares of Nvidia18
  • Nov 22, 2021Sold 100 shares at $337.65 of Nvidia19
  • Nov 22, 2021Sold 100 shares at $335.11 of Nvidia19
  • Nov 22, 2021Sold 200 shares at $333.45 of Nvidia19
  • Nov 22, 2021Sold 600 shares at $329.88 of Nvidia19
  • Nov 22, 2021Sold 400 shares at $328.41 of Nvidia19
  • Nov 22, 2021Sold 605 shares at $327.43 of Nvidia19
  • Nov 22, 2021Sold 550 shares at $326.83 of Nvidia19
  • Nov 22, 2021Sold 1,100 shares at $326.13 of Nvidia19
  • Nov 22, 2021Sold 500 shares at $325.00 of Nvidia19
  • Nov 22, 2021Sold 255 shares at $323.54 of Nvidia19
  • Nov 22, 2021Sold 100 shares at $322.02 of Nvidia19
  • Nov 22, 2021Sold 200 shares at $320.78 of Nvidia19
  • Nov 22, 2021Sold 372 shares at $320.06 of Nvidia19
  • Nov 22, 2021Exercised options 5,082 shares at $3.62 of Nvidia19
  • Nov 19, 2021Sold 1,046 shares at $329.86 of Nvidia19
  • Nov 19, 2021Sold 2,681 shares at $329.09 of Nvidia19
  • Nov 19, 2021Sold 805 shares at $328.28 of Nvidia19
  • Nov 19, 2021Sold 550 shares at $326.77 of Nvidia19
  • Nov 19, 2021Exercised options 5,082 shares at $3.62 of Nvidia19

Early life and education

  • Date not recordedMcMaster University3

Burgess grew up in Toronto, Canada and graduated from McMaster University with a bachelor of commerce degree in 1979. He was awarded the Wayne Fox distinguished alumni award from McMaster University's DeGroote School of Business in 2001, and in 2014 he received an honorary doctorate of laws.

From Wikipedia’s article on Rob Burgess (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Career

Occupation: businessperson.6

From 1984 to 1991, Burgess worked in key executive posts at Silicon Graphics (SGI), a startup in the then emerging field of 3D computer graphics. He started as a sales engineer, opened up Silicon Graphics Canada, and ran that division until 1990 when he became vice president of applications and moved to Silicon Valley.

In 1991, Burgess returned to Toronto to become CEO of Alias Research, a 3D software company. Under his guidance the Alias team orchestrated a financial turnaround and became the leader in high end 3D software, and went on to develop Maya which emerged as the standard in computer animation software. On March 1, 2003, Alias was given an Academy Award for Technical Achievement by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for their development of Maya software.

In 1995, Alias was purchased by Silicon Graphics for $460 million, and Wavefront Technologies for $180 million. Burgess integrated Alias and Wavefront with Silicon Graphics and became president.

Burgess became the CEO and chairman of Macromedia in 1996. He held this position until 2005 when the company was sold to Adobe Systems for $4 billion, which was the fifth largest software acquisition at the time. Burgess joined the Adobe board at that time and served until 2019.

Under Burgess' tenure, he led Macromedia's transformation from a CD-ROM based multimedia company to become the market leader in computer animation and multimedia authoring for the internet. While he was chairman and CEO, the vector animation product Flash became the worldwide standard for multimedia authoring and playback and was available on 99% of "mature market" desktop web browsers by 2010.

Burgess also served on the board of directors of NVIDIA (NVDA), which he joined in 2011.

From Wikipedia’s article on Rob Burgess (this version), CC BY-SA 4.0.

Personal life

  • DiedDec 21, 2025, Woodside7 8
  • CitizenshipUnited States9

Sources

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    Wikidata and SEC EDGARNvidia, Board member
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