Don Jackson served as the CEO of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation during a critical time in the company’s history. He was appointed when the company was emerging from bankruptcy in December 2008, a challenging situation that required strong leadership. Jackson brought...

Don Jackson served as the CEO of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation during a critical time in the company’s history. He was appointed when the company was emerging from bankruptcy in December 2008, a challenging situation that required strong leadership. Jackson brought a significant level of experience to the role, leveraging his business background to navigate the company's transition. Under his leadership, he faced performance metrics tied to the company’s financial goals, earning notable bonuses despite missing some targets. In 2009, he was awarded a substantial reorganization bonus after achieving key operational improvements. What’s interesting about Jackson is how he managed to secure a large equity stake in the company, receiving over 3 million shares of restricted stock soon after his appointment. His tenure lasted until January 2011, after which he moved on to lead JBS USA, maintaining a connection to the Pilgrim's Pride Board. While at Pilgrim’s Pride, he experienced fluctuations in his stock holdings, peaking at a value of over $85 million before tapering off. Jackson's leadership not only aimed to restore the company from bankruptcy but also to align golden financial targets with the competitive landscape.

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1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Pilgrim's Pride Corporation CEOs

P

Don Jackson

Ex-CEO of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation

Education

Not specified

Sector of Economy

Consumer Defensive

CEO of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation for

2 years 0 months (Dec 2008 - Jan 2011)

Previous Experience

Not specified

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Don Jackson

Holdings

See how much did Don Jackson make over time.

Don Jackson had an impressive record of stock performance during his tenure as CEO of Pilgrim's Pride. His holdings peaked at about $85.45 million at the end of 2019, reflecting the highs and lows typical of a CEO's equity stake...

Don Jackson had an impressive record of stock performance during his tenure as CEO of Pilgrim's Pride. His holdings peaked at about $85.45 million at the end of 2019, reflecting the highs and lows typical of a CEO's equity stake in a recovering company. Over the years, Jackson's stock value saw fluctuations — starting high as he was granted 3,085,656 shares of restricted stock upon joining in 2008, the value of which soared to nearly $24 million when it vested. After that, his holdings experienced several ups and downs, hitting lows of around $41.88 million in late 2020 before stabilizing around the $60 million mark. Jackson's involvement was significant both in terms of company performance and his personal wealth from the company's stock, illustrating the volatile connection between corporate leadership and market performance.

Mar 18, 2025

P

shares

PPC @ $49.67

Total Stock Sold

$4.69M

PPC

$4.69M

710,635 PPC shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Don Jackson didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra PPC710,635 shares worth $14.61M.
This is 211.8% and $9.92M more than what they got when they sold the stock.

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Don Jackson.

PPC

$1.82M

PPC at $7.12/share

Dec 7, 2012

Sale

PPC

$2.73M

PPC at $6.00/share

Nov 16, 2012

Sale

Compensation History

See how much did Don Jackson make over time.

Don Jackson's compensation as CEO of Pilgrim's Pride was shaped by his strategic role during a transformative period for the company. In 2010, he earned a total of $2.66 million, primarily from a base salary of $1.5 million and a discretionary bonus of $1.1 million linked to performance metrics. Interestingly, this bonus was only 73.3% of his target due to some unfulfilled financial goals. In 2009, his earnings were significantly higher, at approximately $6.57 million, boosted by a sign-on bonus of $3 million as he helped guide the company out of bankruptcy. His structured compensation was meant to align with the company's recovery efforts, with the potential for more substantial rewards had performance targets been met. Jackson's package included no stock options or vested stock in 2010, showcasing a focus on cash bonuses tied directly to operational success.

Year

2010

Total Compensation

$2.66M

Salary

$1.50M

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy aims to attract and retain key leaders while aligning executive compensation with company performance and peer benchmarking.

Bonus

$1.10M

Board Justification

Discretionary bonus earned for 2010 performance, calculated as 73.3% of his target bonus due to performance metrics not being met.

Other

$63.50K

Board Justification

Other compensation includes contributions to the 401(k) plan, life insurance, and relocation expenses.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 N/A)

Board Justification

No stock awards vested in 2010 as no stock grants were mentioned.

Performance Metrics

Performance metrics for bonuses were based on EBITDA targets, with discretionary bonuses awarded despite not meeting threshold performance.

Other Pilgrim's Pride Corporation CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation

J. Clinton Rivers

Ex-CEO of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation

March 2008 - January 2010

William W. Lovette

Ex-CEO of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation

January 2011 - February 2017