Chris Villavarayan is the CEO and President of Axalta Coating Systems, a company that specializes in coatings and paints. He took the helm on January 1, 2023, after a strong career in operations. Before joining Axalta, he spent over 22...

Chris Villavarayan is the CEO and President of Axalta Coating Systems, a company that specializes in coatings and paints. He took the helm on January 1, 2023, after a strong career in operations. Before joining Axalta, he spent over 22 years at Meritor, Inc., where he rose to CEO and President. This experience in the automotive and industrial sectors prepared him to lead Axalta. In 2023, he earned a total compensation of $9.69 million, showing strong performance in his role with a hefty bonus tied to the company's financial goals. Villavarayan is not just clocking in, though; he actively invests in the company, demonstrating his commitment and belief in Axalta's future. He’s made significant stock trades, showing confidence in the company's direction and potential for growth. Overall, his background and decisions are shaping the future of Axalta, as he implements strategies aimed at enhancing operations and performance.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Axalta Coating Systems CEOs

A

Chris Villavarayan

CEO of Axalta Coating Systems

Education

N/A

Field of Expertise

Business & Management

Sector of Economy

Basic Materials

Born

January 1, 1970 - 55 years ago

CEO of Axalta Coating Systems for

2 years 3 months (Jan 2023 - Present)

Previous Experience

CEO and President of Meritor, Inc.; Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Meritor; Senior Vice President and President – Global Truck at Meritor; President – Americas at Meritor.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Chris Villavarayan

P

Timothy M. Knavish

CEO of PPG Industries

2023 Compensation

Stock

$1.24M

Salary

$1.20M

Bonus

$2.21M

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$1.32M

R

Michael H. Sullivan

CEO of RPM International

2023 Compensation

Stock

$1.27M

Salary

$1.07M

Bonus

$1.58M

Other

$250.54K

Total Holdings

$6.00M

T

Terrence R. Curtin

CEO of TE Connectivity

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.30M

Bonus

$2.08M

Other

$368.57K

Total Holdings

$16.53M

H

Patrick H. Hawkins

CEO of Hawkins

2021 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$500.00K

Bonus

$100.00K

Other

$59.74K

Total Holdings

$35.06M

E

Mark J. Costa

CEO of Eastman Chemical

2022 Compensation

Stock

$1.00

Salary

$1.00

Bonus

$1.00

Other

$1.00

Total Holdings

$45.48M

Holdings

See how much did Chris Villavarayan make over time.

Chris Villavarayan's trading activity reveals his strong confidence in Axalta Coating Systems. In 2023, he engaged in insider trading transactions totaling nearly $20 million, peaking in February 2024 when he traded shares worth $5.54 million. This increasing trend indicates he...

Chris Villavarayan's trading activity reveals his strong confidence in Axalta Coating Systems. In 2023, he engaged in insider trading transactions totaling nearly $20 million, peaking in February 2024 when he traded shares worth $5.54 million. This increasing trend indicates he believes in the company’s future growth and performance. His securities holdings have seen some fluctuations, but the overall trajectory seems to align with his active trading strategy. He clearly has a significant stake in promoting Axalta's success, showing a hands-on approach to both management and investment.

Mar 17, 2025

A

shares

AXTA @ $35.06

F

shares

FELE @ $100.28

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Chris Villavarayan.

FELE

2,415 shares

FELE

May 2, 2024

Received

AXTA

$1.00M

AXTA at $29.67/share

Aug 4, 2023

Purchase

AXTA

$1.01M

AXTA at $29.20/share

Mar 13, 2023

Purchase

Compensation History

See how much did Chris Villavarayan make over time.

In 2023, Chris Villavarayan's total compensation was approximately $9.69 million, which included a $1 million base salary. His bonus was substantial, at $1.94 million, reflecting Axalta's strong performance metrics including Adjusted EBIT and Free Cash Flow. He was granted 75,839 Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) for long-term equity incentives. However, none of these stocks vested in the same year. His compensation package is designed to be performance-based, aligning his interests with shareholders and ensuring he is incentivized to drive the company's success over time. Additionally, he has a compensation philosophy that prioritizes attracting and retaining top talent while rewarding executives based on performance outcomes.

Year

2023

Total Compensation

$3.30M

Salary

$1.00M

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy emphasizes pay-for-performance, aligning executive compensation with company performance and shareholder interests, while ensuring competitive pay to attract and retain top talent.

Bonus

$1.94M

Board Justification

The bonus was determined based on the company's performance metrics, with a target bonus of $1,250,000 and an actual payout of $1,940,000 reflecting strong performance in Adjusted EBIT and Free Cash Flow.

Other

$356.06K

Board Justification

Other compensation includes perquisites such as executive physicals, insurance contributions, and relocation assistance.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 RSU)

Board Justification

No stock awards vested in 2023 as the amounts reported are for stock grants, not vested stock.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for determining compensation included Adjusted EBIT, Adjusted EBIT Margin, and Free Cash Flow.

Other Axalta Coating Systems CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Axalta Coating Systems

Robert W. Bryant

Ex-CEO of Axalta Coating Systems

December 2018 - November 2022