Donnie Smith served as the CEO of Tyson Foods, Inc. from 2009 to 2016. Armed with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science, he joined Tyson in 1980 and climbed the ranks through various leadership roles. His extensive experience at the...

Donnie Smith served as the CEO of Tyson Foods, Inc. from 2009 to 2016. Armed with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science, he joined Tyson in 1980 and climbed the ranks through various leadership roles. His extensive experience at the company included positions like Senior Group Vice President of Poultry and Prepared Foods, showcasing his deep industry knowledge. Smith was instrumental in advancing the company's strategic goals during his tenure. Interestingly, he once held over $15 million in stock value around 2021, showing his strong investment confidence in Tyson Foods. Smith's compensation was also notable; in 2012, he earned a total of around $25,005, a mix of salary, cash bonuses, stock vesting, and other benefits. A key moment came in 2016 when he transitioned out of his role, following a robust period of growth for the company. He made headlines with his severance arrangement, which included continued salary payouts upon his departure. He played a crucial role in Tyson's operations and left a lasting impact on the company culture and performance metrics.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Tyson Foods CEOs

T

Donnie Smith

Ex-CEO of Tyson Foods

Education

Bachelor's degree in Animal Science

Sector of Economy

Consumer Defensive

Born

May 1, 1960 - 64 years ago

CEO of Tyson Foods for

7 years 11 months (Jan 2009 - Dec 2016)

Previous Experience

President and CEO of Tyson Foods, Inc.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Donnie Smith

F

A. Ryals McMullian

CEO of Flowers Foods

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$955.00K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$258.94K

Total Holdings

$53.34M

P

Fabio Sandri

CEO of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$942.31K

Bonus

$1.00M

Other

$22.10K

Total Holdings

$13.89M

B

Ethan Brown

Founder and CEO of Beyond Meat

2022 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$500.00K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$14.13K

Total Holdings

$8.18M

S

Kevin P. Hourican

CEO of Sysco

2022 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.30M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$151.51K

Total Holdings

$32.59M

Holdings

See how much did Donnie Smith make over time.

During his time at Tyson Foods, Donnie Smith's stock holdings experienced significant fluctuation. At his peak, around early 2021, his investments in Tyson were valued at over $15 million. This level of investment highlighted his belief in the company's potential...

During his time at Tyson Foods, Donnie Smith's stock holdings experienced significant fluctuation. At his peak, around early 2021, his investments in Tyson were valued at over $15 million. This level of investment highlighted his belief in the company's potential and his commitment to its success. Interestingly, over the years, he strategically sold portions of his stock, reaching a high of approximately $14.52 million in December 2021, before experiencing some declines in value in subsequent months. By late 2022, his holdings softened to around $10 million, reflecting the ups and downs of stock performance and market conditions. This variability not only illustrates Smith's financial savvy but also mirrors Tyson's operational changes and challenges in the competitive marketplace.

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Total Stock Sold

$13.45M

TSN

$13.45M

229,958 TSN shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Donnie Smith didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra TSN229,958 shares worth $12.98M.
This is -3.47% and $467.06K less than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

TSN

211,107 shares

TSN

Recent Charitable Transactions

TSN

69,065 shares

TSN

Dec 3, 2015

Charity

TSN

78,900 shares

TSN

Dec 5, 2013

Charity

TSN

23,876 shares

TSN

Dec 3, 2012

Charity

TSN

19,666 shares

TSN

Nov 28, 2011

Charity

TSN

19,600 shares

TSN

Nov 28, 2011

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Donnie Smith.

TSN

$4.62M

TSN at $74.54/share

Aug 17, 2016

Sale

TSN

$2.86M

TSN at $75.20/share

Jun 20, 2016

Sale

TSN

69,065 shares

TSN

Dec 3, 2015

Charity

TSN

$5.15M

TSN at $50.00/share

Sep 15, 2015

Sale

TSN

84,543.904 shares

TSN

Sep 15, 2015

Received

TSN

$417.77K

TSN at $41.78/share

Mar 13, 2015

Sale

TSN

26,620 shares

TSN

Sep 15, 2014

Received

TSN

78,900 shares

TSN

Dec 5, 2013

Charity

TSN

31,427 shares

TSN

Nov 21, 2013

Received

TSN

$184.42K

TSN at $31.91/share

Dec 3, 2012

Sale

Compensation History

See how much did Donnie Smith make over time.

Donnie Smith's compensation during his tenure at Tyson Foods reflected the company's performance metrics and his role in shaping its future. In 2016, his total compensation package was around $6 million, which included a base salary of $1 million, bonuses based on company performance of about $2 million, and vested stock valued at approximately $3 million. His pay structure was designed to align with Tyson's growth, focusing on long-term shareholder value. Notably, in 2011, he received a substantial total package of $1.95 million, underscoring the critical initiatives he undertook to enhance operational efficiency and profitability during challenging market conditions. His agreements often included provisions for bonuses linked to key performance indicators like revenue growth and operational efficiency, which drove significant company success during his leadership.

Year

2016

Total Compensation

$12.00

Salary

$1.00

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy aligns with company performance, focusing on long-term shareholder value and competitive benchmarking against industry peers.

Bonus

$2.00

Board Justification

The bonus is based on the company's performance metrics, including revenue growth and operational efficiency, paid out in cash for the fiscal year 2016.

Other

$5.00

Board Justification

Other compensation includes retirement plan contributions and perquisites such as health benefits, paid out in cash for the fiscal year 2016.

Restricted Stock

$4.00(3 RSU)

Board Justification

The vested stock represents shares that were granted in previous years and became fully vested in 2016, reflecting the company's stock performance and retention strategy.

Performance Metrics

Performance metrics include financial targets such as EBITDA growth, market share expansion, and operational cost management.

Other Tyson Foods CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Tyson Foods

Richard L. Bond

Ex-CEO of Tyson Foods

November 2005 - January 2009

Tom Hayes

Ex-CEO of Tyson Foods

December 2016 - September 2018