Donald Knauss is the former CEO and current Executive Chairman of The Clorox Company, a role he took on in 2006 after leaving Coca-Cola. Before joining Clorox, he was president and chief operating officer of Coca-Cola's North America segment. His...

Donald Knauss is the former CEO and current Executive Chairman of The Clorox Company, a role he took on in 2006 after leaving Coca-Cola. Before joining Clorox, he was president and chief operating officer of Coca-Cola's North America segment. His leadership at Clorox spanned nearly eight years, during which he focused on improving the company's financial performance. Known for his expertise in marketing, Knauss earned substantial bonuses based on company performance metrics, peaking at nearly $9 million in total compensation in 2013. Interestingly, he had significant insider trading activity between 2019 and 2024, with his stock holdings fluctuating from about $11.42 million to a high of approximately $18.12 million. This indicates that he actively managed his investments while at the helm of Clorox. Post his tenure as CEO, Knauss was named Executive Chairman at Clorox, continuing to influence company strategy. He also set up strong severance packages and conditions for his termination, showing his strategic focus on securing his position and benefits. Overall, Knauss’s journey reflects a hands-on approach and strategic financial management that contributed to Clorox's growth during his leadership, building on his extensive background in the beverage sector.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Clorox CEOs

C

Donald Knauss

Ex-CEO of Clorox

Education

Not specified

Field of Expertise

Sales & Marketing - Marketing

Sector of Economy

Consumer Defensive

Born

January 1, 1951 - 74 years ago

CEO of Clorox for

8 years 1 month (Oct 2006 - Nov 2014)

Previous Experience

Executive Vice President of The Coca-Cola Company and President and Chief Operating Officer for Coca-Cola North America

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Donald Knauss

P

Jon R. Moeller

CEO of Procter & Gamble

2022 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.60M

Bonus

$4.71M

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$55.56M

Holdings

See how much did Donald Knauss make over time.

Donald Knauss actively managed substantial stock holdings during and after his tenure at Clorox. From September 2019 to August 2024, his stock value showed significant fluctuations, indicative of strategic moves and market conditions. At the start, in September 2019, his...

Donald Knauss actively managed substantial stock holdings during and after his tenure at Clorox. From September 2019 to August 2024, his stock value showed significant fluctuations, indicative of strategic moves and market conditions. At the start, in September 2019, his holdings were valued at approximately $11.42 million and peaked at around $18.12 million by the end of 2021. As of 2023, there were some declines, bringing the value down to about $14.79 million. This pattern reflects a responsive approach to investment, adapting to market movements while maintaining a strong stake in Clorox's future.

Mar 11, 2025

C

shares

CLX @ $148.80

K

shares

K @ $82.36

M

shares

MCK @ $654.78

Total Stock Sold

$61.81M

CLX

$61.40M

583,915 CLX shares

K

$400.70K

6,846 K shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Donald Knauss didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra CLX583,915 shares worth $107.56M and K6,846 shares worth $429.52K.
This is 74.73% and $46.19M more than what they got when they sold the stock.

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Donald Knauss.

K

$175.02K

K at $60.04/share

May 6, 2024

Received

MCK

483 shares

MCK

Jul 21, 2023

Received

MCK

290 shares

MCK

Jul 21, 2023

Received

K

2,080 shares

K

May 8, 2023

Received

K

2,180 shares

K

May 8, 2023

Received

K

2,080 shares

K

May 9, 2022

Received

K

2,273 shares

K

May 10, 2021

Received

K

2,435 shares

K

May 4, 2020

Received

MCK

1,296 shares

MCK

Jul 31, 2019

Received

K

2,701 shares

K

May 6, 2019

Received

Compensation History

See how much did Donald Knauss make over time.

During his time as CEO of Clorox, Donald Knauss's compensation was significantly tied to the company's performance. In 2014, he earned a total of $5,906,617, which included a salary of $1,154,424 and a hefty bonus of over $2.85 million thanks to exceeding performance targets. This structured pay often topped $8 million in prior years, reflecting his effectiveness in driving company results. Notably, Knauss had no vested stock or stock options during his last year as CEO due to a transition in role. His compensation strategy was heavily based on aligning pay with performance, aiming to increase shareholder value while maintaining high motivational standards for himself and his team. His exit from the role transitioned smoothly to becoming Executive Chairman, keeping him in a position of influence within the company.

Year

2014

Total Compensation

$4.21M

Salary

$1.15M

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy is to align pay with performance, with a significant portion of executive compensation being performance-based to drive long-term shareholder value.

Bonus

$2.85M

Board Justification

The annual incentive payout was based on the company's financial performance, strategic metrics, and individual performance, resulting in a payout of 171% of his target award.

Other

$201.79K

Board Justification

This includes contributions to retirement plans, perquisites, and other benefits.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 N/A)

Board Justification

No performance shares were granted to Mr. Knauss in fiscal year 2015 as he transitioned to Executive Chairman.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics included financial goals for net sales and economic profit, as well as strategic metrics related to operational performance.

Other Clorox CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Clorox

Benno Dorer

CEO of Clorox

November 2014 - Present