John C. May is the CEO of Deere & Company, a major player in the agricultural machinery industry. He started as Chief Operating Officer in 2019 and became CEO on November 4, 2019. Now, he also chairs the board. May...

John C. May is the CEO of Deere & Company, a major player in the agricultural machinery industry. He started as Chief Operating Officer in 2019 and became CEO on November 4, 2019. Now, he also chairs the board. May has been at Deere for many years, climbing the ranks from various leadership roles, including President of the Worldwide Agriculture & Turf Division. As of late 2023, May owns over 131,000 shares of Deere stock worth more than $51 million. His options are significant too, valued at around $17 million. His pay package is impressive as well, totaling about $26.7 million in 2023, which includes a $1.59 million salary and nearly $6 million in bonuses for hitting performance goals. He’s been known to adapt during key changes in the company. For instance, his salary jumped from $744,060 to over $1 million when he became COO. May's leadership and stock ownership show a big commitment to Deere’s success, reflecting his belief in the company's future.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

D

John C. May

CEO of Deere & Company

Sector of Economy

Industrials

Born

July 29, 2024 - 0 years ago

CEO of Deere & Company for

6 years 0 months (Apr 2019 - Present)

Previous Experience

President, Worldwide Agriculture & Turf Division – Agricultural Solutions and Chief Information Officer

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of John C. May

A

Kevin J. Wheeler

CEO of A. O. Smith

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.08M

Bonus

$1.94M

Other

$236.98K

Total Holdings

$6.07M

I

Vicente Reynal

CEO of Ingersoll Rand

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.13M

Bonus

$3.43M

Other

$175.95K

Total Holdings

$65.37M

F

Robert Higginbotham

CEO of Foot Locker

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$0.00

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$235.34K

A

Jeffery A. Leonard

CEO of Alamo Group

2022 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$450.00K

Bonus

$513.00K

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$6.98M

A

Eric Hansotia

CEO of AGCO

2023 Compensation

Stock

$3.19M

Salary

$1.32M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$402.41K

Total Holdings

$27.17M

T

Paul G. Reitz

CEO of Titan International

2023 Compensation

Stock

$798.25K

Salary

$956.33K

Bonus

$1.15M

Other

$62.08K

Total Holdings

$4.07M

Holdings

See how much did John C. May make over time.

John C. May has a substantial stake in Deere & Company, with over 131,000 shares valued at more than $51 million. Additionally, he owns options worth around $17 million. His wealth in these holdings has seen significant growth since he...

John C. May has a substantial stake in Deere & Company, with over 131,000 shares valued at more than $51 million. Additionally, he owns options worth around $17 million. His wealth in these holdings has seen significant growth since he became CEO in 2019, where he shifted from a smaller equity position to a major shareholder. Holding significant shares, May clearly believes in Deere's long-term success. His financial commitment aligns with his leadership roles and responsibilities within the company. It reflects a confidence in the company’s direction, especially during times of transition. The value of his holdings demonstrates a strong connection to the company's performance and future prospects.

Mar 18, 2025

D

shares

DE @ $481.17

F

shares

F @ $9.95

Total Stock Sold

$58.29M

DE

$58.29M

255,508 DE shares

What if they kept their stock?

If John C. May didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra DE255,508 shares worth $35.72M.
This is -38.72% and $22.57M less than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

DE

1,400 shares

DE

F

171 shares

F

Recent Charitable Transactions

F

171 shares

F

Dec 15, 2021

Charity

DE

1,400 shares

DE

Mar 25, 2021

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of John C. May.

F

25,444 shares

F

May 16, 2024

Received

DE

11,776 shares

DE

Dec 13, 2023

Received

DE

29,588 shares

DE

Dec 9, 2023

Received

DE

$22.06M

DE at $416.54/share

Jun 22, 2023

Sale

F

27,061 shares

F

May 18, 2023

Received

DE

9,339 shares

DE

Dec 14, 2022

Received

DE

35,356 shares

DE

Dec 11, 2022

Received

F

24,513 shares

F

May 19, 2022

Received

F

1,263 shares

F

Dec 15, 2021

Received

DE

8,286 shares

DE

Dec 15, 2021

Received

Compensation History

See how much did John C. May make over time.

For 2023, John C. May's total compensation reached about $26.7 million. This includes a base salary of $1.59 million and short-term bonuses close to $6 million, reflecting his success in meeting performance targets. A significant part of his earnings comes from vested stock units worth $12.4 million, which depend on long-term results like revenue growth. His financial journey at Deere saw a rapid increase in earnings since moving into executive roles, showcasing a mix of fixed and performance-based pay that drives results. Each year, his compensation plans align with the company’s financial performance, ensuring that his goals match Deere's broader objectives.

Year

2023

Total Compensation

$20.55M

Salary

$1.59M

Board Justification

Deere's compensation philosophy emphasizes pay for performance, aligning executive compensation with the company's financial performance and shareholder interests, while also considering market competitiveness.

Bonus

$5.91M

Board Justification

The Short-Term Incentive (STI) award for fiscal 2023 was based on performance metrics including Operating Return on Operating Assets (OROA) and Operating Return on Sales (OROS), resulting in a payout of 185.7% of the target.

Other

$602.96K

Board Justification

Other compensation includes contributions to defined contribution plans and personal use of company aircraft.

Restricted Stock

$12.45M(12.45M RSU)

Board Justification

The Performance Stock Units (PSUs) and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) awarded in fiscal 2023 will vest based on performance metrics over a three-year period, with the actual number of shares to be issued based on revenue growth relative to the Performance Peer Group.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for fiscal 2023 included Operating Return on Operating Assets (OROA), Operating Return on Sales (OROS), and Return on Equity (ROE), which are designed to drive profitability and efficient operations.