John G. Russell is the former CEO of CMS Energy, serving from 2010 until his retirement in 2016. Under his leadership, the company focused on aligning executive compensation with shareholder value, achieving impressive bonus payouts based on performance metrics like...

John G. Russell is the former CEO of CMS Energy, serving from 2010 until his retirement in 2016. Under his leadership, the company focused on aligning executive compensation with shareholder value, achieving impressive bonus payouts based on performance metrics like earnings per share and operating cash flow. He saw total compensation peak at over $10 million in 2015, largely due to successful management and strategic decisions. As part of his responsibilities, Russell was pivotal in guiding CMS through significant financial metrics, with strong returns on investments. His insider trading activities showed fluctuations in share values ranging from $12 million to over $27 million between 2019 and 2024, indicating active engagement in the company's stock performance. Following his departure, Julie Lowry took over as CEO, and Russell transitioned to a role as chairman of the board, indicating his ongoing influence in the company’s direction. Russell’s approach to executive performance and compensation reflects a practical strategy for aligning interests with shareholders, making him an impactful figure in the energy sector.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other CMS Energy CEOs

C

John G. Russell

Ex-CEO of CMS Energy

Education

Not specified

Field of Expertise

Business & Management - Business Management

Sector of Economy

Utilities

Born

January 1, 1958 - 67 years ago

CEO of CMS Energy for

6 years 1 month (May 2010 - Jul 2016)

Previous Experience

Various positions at Consumers Energy since 1981

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of John G. Russell

A

Warner L. Baxter

CEO of Ameren

2021 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.30M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$158.48K

Total Holdings

$23.31M

C

Timothy Cawley

CEO of Consolidated Edison

2023 Compensation

Stock

$11.43M

Salary

$1.35M

Bonus

$2.26M

Other

$79.60K

Total Holdings

$23.63M

E

David A. Campbell

CEO of Evergy

2023 Compensation

Stock

$940.54K

Salary

$1.06M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$60.80K

Total Holdings

$26.23M

S

Christopher C. Womack

CEO of Southern Company

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.45M

Bonus

$2.80M

Other

$110.06K

Total Holdings

$13.62M

W

Scott J. Lauber

CEO of WEC Energy Group

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.09M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$504.54K

Total Holdings

$5.61M

X

Robert C. Frenzel

CEO of Xcel Energy

2023 Compensation

Stock

$1.40M

Salary

$1.30M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$70.78K

Total Holdings

$28.38M

Holdings

See how much did John G. Russell make over time.

John G. Russell's insider trading activity displayed significant fluctuations, with his holdings peaking at over $27 million in stock value by August 2020. In a period from late 2019 through early 2021, his holdings fluctuated notably, with values reaching as...

John G. Russell's insider trading activity displayed significant fluctuations, with his holdings peaking at over $27 million in stock value by August 2020. In a period from late 2019 through early 2021, his holdings fluctuated notably, with values reaching as high as $27.99 million before gradually decreasing to around $15 million by September 2021. Interestingly, in 2023, his holdings again saw a peak around $24 million, showing a pattern of strong engagement with the stock. This level of activity reflects a hands-on approach to his investments aligned with the company’s performance, justifies his involvement in executive decisions, and underscores his belief in the future of CMS Energy.

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Total Stock Sold

$26.75M

CMS

$26.75M

633,550 CMS shares

What if they kept their stock?

If John G. Russell didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra CMS633,550 shares worth $36.33M.
This is 35.82% and $9.58M more than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

CMS

201,215 shares

CMS

Recent Charitable Transactions

CMS

1,875 shares

CMS

Feb 22, 2019

Charity

CMS

63,829 shares

CMS

Aug 7, 2017

Charity

CMS

50,500 shares

CMS

Nov 21, 2016

Charity

CMS

50,050 shares

CMS

Nov 21, 2016

Charity

CMS

34,961 shares

CMS

Aug 25, 2016

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of John G. Russell.

CMS

$1.89M

CMS at $65.85/share

Dec 19, 2024

Sale

CMS

2,843 shares

CMS

May 3, 2024

Received

CMS

$1.05M

CMS at $55.20/share

Nov 2, 2023

Sale

CMS

2,582 shares

CMS

May 5, 2023

Received

HUBB

527 shares

HUBB

May 2, 2023

Received

CMS

2,362 shares

CMS

May 6, 2022

Received

HUBB

744 shares

HUBB

May 3, 2022

Received

CMS

2,345 shares

CMS

May 7, 2021

Received

HUBB

749 shares

HUBB

May 4, 2021

Received

HUBB

1,059 shares

HUBB

May 5, 2020

Received

Compensation History

See how much did John G. Russell make over time.

During his tenure, John G. Russell's compensation strategy included aligning executive bonuses with corporate performance metrics. In 2016, he earned approximately $10.2 million, which included a salary of $636,000 and a significant bonus of nearly $900,000 based on exceeding EPS and OCF goals. His vested stock awards during the years further contributed to his earnings, with values skyrocketing as high as $8 million based on performance-based criteria. This structure showed a clear focus on rewarding measurable results, aligning well with the company’s objectives and shareholder interests. His total earnings reflected a successful strategy to create value for both the company and its shareholders while maintaining competitiveness in the energy sector.

Year

2016

Total Compensation

$6.97M

Salary

$636.00K

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy is designed to align with increasing shareholder value, enable competition for top executive talent, reward measurable results, and ensure fairness and competitiveness in compensation.

Bonus

$896.76K

Board Justification

The bonus was based on the achievement of EPS and OCF goals, resulting in a payout of 141% of target for the Annual Incentive Plan in 2016.

Other

$152.07K

Board Justification

Other compensation includes contributions to the Deferred Compensation Plans and life insurance premiums.

Restricted Stock

$5.29M(5.29M performance-based restricted stock)

Board Justification

The stock awards that vested were performance-based restricted stock awarded under the Stock Plan, which vested based on the Corporation’s relative TSR performance from January 2013 to January 2016.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for the CEO's compensation included EPS and OCF targets, with EPS weighted at 70% and OCF at 30%.

Other CMS Energy CEOs

Here are other CEOs of CMS Energy

David W. Joos

Ex-CEO of CMS Energy

October 2004 - May 2010

Patricia Kessler Poppe

CEO of CMS Energy

July 2016 - Present