Jim Nielsen is the former President and Chief Operating Officer of Sprouts Farmers Market, a popular grocery chain focused on healthy and organic food. Born in 1974, Jim led the company through a transformative period from 2018 to 2019. During...

Jim Nielsen is the former President and Chief Operating Officer of Sprouts Farmers Market, a popular grocery chain focused on healthy and organic food. Born in 1974, Jim led the company through a transformative period from 2018 to 2019. During his tenure, he played a crucial role in positioning Sprouts for growth within a competitive market. Nielsen is known for his strong operations background, having overseen significant improvements in company strategy and performance metrics like Plan EBITDA and store sales growth. In 2019, Nielsen was on medical leave, transitioning to a Senior Advisor role until March 2020, showing a level of commitment even during personal challenges. His financial compensation reflects his impact, with a total of nearly $2.6 million in 2019, comprising salary, bonuses, and vested stock. Jim is noted for his strategic insider trading, with reported several million dollars in stock sales, showcasing his confidence in the company's value at the time. His aim has always been to align the interests of executives with company performance, creating a culture of performance-based rewards that attract and motivate top talent. Jim's approach to leadership and operations leaves a lasting impact on the company's direction.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Sprouts Farmers Market CEOs

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Jim Nielsen

Ex-CEO of Sprouts Farmers Market

Education

Not specified

Field of Expertise

Business & Management

Sector of Economy

Consumer Defensive

Born

January 1, 1974 - 51 years ago

CEO of Sprouts Farmers Market for

0 years 7 months (Dec 2018 - Aug 2019)

Previous Experience

Served as President of Henry's Farmers Markets.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Jim Nielsen

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Russell Diez-Canseco

CEO of Vital Farms

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$686.54K

Bonus

$560.01K

Other

$18.63K

Total Holdings

$23.33M

Holdings

See how much did Jim Nielsen make over time.

During Jim Nielsen's time leading Sprouts Farmers Market, his insider trading activities indicated strategic confidence in ownership. At the peak in late 2021, Nielsen's holdings reached over $4.5 million before consistently fluctuating down to about $2.5 million in early 2022....

During Jim Nielsen's time leading Sprouts Farmers Market, his insider trading activities indicated strategic confidence in ownership. At the peak in late 2021, Nielsen's holdings reached over $4.5 million before consistently fluctuating down to about $2.5 million in early 2022. By 2023, those holdings climbed again to over $6 million, showcasing the volatility and potential growth of Sprouts stock during his tenure. Nielsen's stock trades were not just numerical; they represented significant confidence in Sprouts’ leadership and future prospects. The data shows his understanding of the ever-changing market dynamics, pointing toward growth reinforcement in sustainable food retailing. His stakes in the company highlight how closely he was aligned with Sprouts' trajectory, particularly as he moved from his roles into advisory positions post-leave.

Mar 17, 2025

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shares

SFM @ $140.99

Total Stock Sold

$34.78M

SFM

$34.78M

1,159,297 SFM shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Jim Nielsen didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra SFM1,159,297 shares worth $21.81M.
This is -37.29% and $12.97M less than what they got when they sold the stock.

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Jim Nielsen.

SFM

$395.69K

SFM at $22.92/share

Mar 4, 2019

Sale

SFM

30,117 shares

SFM

Mar 4, 2019

Received

SFM

$13.65M

SFM at $29.26/share

Sep 10, 2018

Sale

SFM

$25.66K

SFM at $22.03/share

Jul 2, 2018

Sale

SFM

$48.96K

SFM at $25.33/share

Mar 12, 2018

Sale

SFM

$266.34K

SFM at $25.24/share

Mar 5, 2018

Sale

SFM

24,885 shares

SFM

Mar 5, 2018

Received

SFM

35,941 shares

SFM

Feb 20, 2018

Received

SFM

$2.55M

SFM at $23.17/share

Dec 1, 2017

Sale

SFM

$1.31M

SFM at $23.74/share

May 25, 2017

Sale

Compensation History

See how much did Jim Nielsen make over time.

In 2019, Jim Nielsen's total compensation package amounted to about $2.6 million, which included a base salary of around $714,519, a fixed bonus of $320,000, and a substantial amount from vested stock worth about $1.39 million. His pay structure was designed to reward performance, with a significant portion coming from stock that vested based on operational achievements. This compensation strategy aligned executive interests with company performance metrics like EBITDA growth. In earlier years, specifically in 2018, Nielsen earned approximately $2.1 million, revealing a nice upward trajectory in his pay. His focus on performance-driven rewards aims to motivate not just himself but everyone in leadership at Sprouts, facilitating a strong emphasis on accountability and performance-driven outcomes.

Year

2019

Total Compensation

$2.60M

Salary

$714.52K

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy is designed to attract, motivate, and retain executives while aligning their interests with those of the stockholders through performance-based incentives.

Bonus

$320.00K

Board Justification

Mr. Nielsen's 2019 annual bonus was fixed at $320,000 if his employment was not terminated for cause prior to the bonus payment date.

Other

$169.35K

Board Justification

This includes health and life insurance premiums paid on behalf of Mr. Nielsen and additional compensation related to his role as Interim Co-CEO.

Restricted Stock

$1.39M(1.39M RSU)

Board Justification

The stock awards that vested in 2019 include performance shares and RSUs granted in previous years that met the vesting conditions.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for determining the compensation included Plan EBITDA and comparable store sales growth.

Other Sprouts Farmers Market CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Sprouts Farmers Market

Amin N. Maredia

Ex-CEO of Sprouts Farmers Market

August 2015 - December 2018

Jack Sinclair

CEO of Sprouts Farmers Market

August 2019 - Present