Kevin J. Wheeler is the President and CEO of A. O. Smith Corporation, a company he has been with since 1994. He started as a regional sales manager and moved up through the ranks, becoming a senior vice president by 2011. In 2018, he took on the dual role of both President and CEO, following the transition of the previous CEO to an executive chairman role. Under his leadership, the company set impressive financial goals, achieving a corporate EBIT of $733.5 million and net sales of approximately $3.85 billion in 2023, with performance bonuses reflecting this strong performance. Wheeler has an interesting record of stock ventures, including noteworthy fluctuations where his stock holdings were valued at over $11 million at their peak. In 2023, he directly earned over $1.93 million in bonuses alone, showcasing A. O. Smith's pay-for-performance philosophy. His commitment to aligning executive pay with company performance aims to benefit both the company and its shareholders. It’s clear that Wheeler’s journey at A. O. Smith reflects a steady rise through strategy, determination, and performance-driven results.

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Kevin J. Wheeler

CEO of A. O. Smith

Sector of Economy

Industrials

Born

July 30, 2024 - 0 years ago

CEO of A. O. Smith for

4 years 11 months (May 2020 - Present)

Previous Experience

Unknown

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Kevin J. Wheeler

Donald G. Macpherson

CEO of W.W. Grainger

2023 Compensation

Stock

$6.63M

Salary

$1.10M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$317.29K

Total Holdings

$126.49M

Vicente Reynal

CEO of Ingersoll Rand

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.13M

Bonus

$3.43M

Other

$175.95K

Total Holdings

$65.37M

Deidra C. Merriwether

CEO of W.W. Grainger

2023 Compensation

Stock

$2.00M

Salary

$693.84K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$110.88K

Total Holdings

$12.82M

R. Scott Rowe

CEO of Flowserve

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.20M

Bonus

$2.67M

Other

$21.00K

Total Holdings

$19.70M

Andrea J. Funk

CEO of EnerSys

2023 Compensation

Stock

$250.00K

Salary

$450.00K

Bonus

$100.00K

Other

$50.00K

Total Holdings

$4.45M

Holdings

See how much did Kevin J. Wheeler make over time.

Kevin J. Wheeler's stock holdings have experienced significant fluctuations over the years. In late 2019, his holdings were worth around $11.44 million at their peak. By early 2023, this value had dropped significantly, hovering around the $4 million mark before climbing back again to about $5.28 million by late 2023. These variations highlight the volatility inherent in the market and Wheeler's strategy as CEO to navigate these changes while maximizing shareholder value. His wealth is tied closely to A. O. Smith’s performance, reflecting his stake and interest in the company’s success. This relationship between his holdings and the company’s financial health illustrates the pay-for-performance structure that is emphasized within A. O. Smith.

Mar 17, 2025

AOS @ $67.49

Total Stock Sold

$2.69M

AOS

$2.69M

59,136 AOS shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Kevin J. Wheeler didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra AOS59,136 shares worth $2.38M.
This is -11.5% and $309.07K less than what they got when they sold the stock.

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Kevin J. Wheeler.

AOS

$892.39K

AOS at $69.09/share

Aug 25, 2023

Sale

AOS

$356.62K

AOS at $60.65/share

Feb 12, 2021

Received

AOS

$167.71K

AOS at $43.96/share

Feb 13, 2020

Received

AOS

$268.93K

AOS at $48.72/share

Feb 8, 2019

Received

AOS

$817.41K

AOS at $61.49/share

Dec 5, 2017

Sale

AOS

$739.71K

AOS at $54.39/share

May 4, 2017

Sale

AOS

$66.47K

AOS at $65.75/share

Feb 11, 2016

Sale

AOS

$52.88K

AOS at $62.21/share

Feb 13, 2015

Sale

AOS

$28.10K

AOS at $46.67/share

Feb 7, 2014

Sale

AOS

$284.80K

AOS at $41.88/share

Aug 2, 2013

Sale

Compensation History

See how much did Kevin J. Wheeler make over time.

Kevin J. Wheeler's compensation reflects his performance-driven leadership at A. O. Smith Corporation. In 2023, he earned a total of $2,963,476, which included a salary of $1,076,500 and bonuses amounting to $1,194,200 based on exceeding corporate goals. Notably, his bonus structure is aligned with the company's EBIT and net sales targets, indicating a strong incentive tied to performance. He also received other compensation totaling around $236,976, including contributions to retirement plans. The previous years have shown a consistent trend of high incentives for achieving financial targets, with total annual compensation varying from about $1.67 million in 2018 to over $3.12 million in 2021, reflecting both company success and Wheeler's strategic leadership. While he didn't vest stock grants in 2023, his earnings align with the company's compensation philosophy, aiming to attract top talent while rewarding outstanding performance.

Year

2023

Total Compensation

$3.26M

Salary

$1.08M

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy aims to attract and retain world-class executives through competitive total compensation, encouraging a pay-for-performance mentality, and aligning executive compensation with stockholder interests.

Bonus

$1.94M

Board Justification

The annual incentive bonus for 2023 was based on achieving a combination of corporate EBIT and net sales targets, with an overall achievement of 150.3%.

Other

$236.98K

Board Justification

Includes company contributions to retirement and 401(k) plans, dividends on restricted stock and stock units, perquisite allowance, and other compensation.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 RSU)

Board Justification

No stock grants were vested in 2023 as the amounts reflect the grant date fair value of stock awards, which are not included in total compensation calculations.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for 2023 included corporate EBIT of $733.5 million and corporate net sales of $3.853 billion.

Other A. O. Smith CEOs

Here are other CEOs of A. O. Smith

Ajita G. Rajendra

Ex-CEO of A. O. Smith

January 2013 - August 2018

Stephen M. Shafer

CEO of A. O. Smith

March 2024 - Present