Autodesk Partners with Starboard, Appoints New Directors and Boosts Shareholder Value

Autodesk has formed a partnership with Starboard Value LP, with Jeff Epstein and Christie Simons joining the company's Board of Directors as non-voting observers. The partnership aims to enhance shareholder value and drive long-term growth. The Board will consist of 12 directors, with 11 independent members. The average target price for Autodesk is $316.07, implying an upside of 19.52% from the current price of $264.44.

Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK), a leading provider of design software, has formed a strategic partnership with Starboard Value LP, an investment advisory firm. As part of this agreement, Jeff Epstein and Christie Simons have been appointed to Autodesk's Board of Directors as non-voting observers. The partnership aims to enhance shareholder value and drive long-term growth, with Epstein and Simons expected to become voting members after the Annual Meeting on June 18, 2025 [1].

Jeff Epstein brings extensive experience, having served as EVP and CFO of Oracle and held board positions at Twilio and Okta. He is currently an Operating Partner at Bessemer Venture Partners. Christie Simons, with over 30 years of experience, has served as a Senior Partner at Deloitte and is a member of the Board of Directors at Micron Technology. Their appointments are expected to bring valuable expertise in technology, finance, and audit to the Board [1].

The partnership comes amidst ongoing discussions with Starboard, which has previously criticized Autodesk for underperformance. However, Autodesk has highlighted its strong financial performance, including a 12% increase in revenue for FY 2025 to $6.1 billion and a 22% growth in free cash flow to $1.6 billion [2]. The company also set ambitious targets for FY 2026, aiming for free cash flow between $2.075 billion and $2.175 billion.

The addition of Epstein and Simons is part of Autodesk's ongoing board enhancement efforts. The Board will now consist of 12 directors, with 11 independent members. The average target price for Autodesk is $316.07, implying an upside of 19.52% from the current price of $264.44 [3].

References:
[1] https://www.investing.com/news/company-news/autodesk-expands-board-with-two-new-directors-in-starboard-agreement-93CH-4001664
[2] https://seekingalpha.com/news/4434830-autodesk-adds-two-independent-board-members-in-agreement-with-activist-investor
[3] https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com,2025:newsml_L4N3R2190:0-autodesk-settles-fight-with-starboard-adds-2-newcomers-to-board/