Lowell C. McAdam served as the CEO of Verizon Communications from 2011 to 2018, transitioning to Chairman of the Board after his tenure. With a background in engineering from UC Berkeley, his leadership has been critical in steering Verizon through...

Lowell C. McAdam served as the CEO of Verizon Communications from 2011 to 2018, transitioning to Chairman of the Board after his tenure. With a background in engineering from UC Berkeley, his leadership has been critical in steering Verizon through significant changes in the telecommunications landscape. As CEO, McAdam emphasized performance-based pay to align executive compensation with the company's goals. Notably, in 2018, he received nearly $18.6 million in total compensation, with $12 million coming from stock awards that reflected his engagement with Verizon's performance. During his time, he built a substantial stock holding, reportedly owning holdings valued at over $16 million at their peak. This deep commitment to Verizon's success is evident in his strategic decisions, focusing on sustainable practices and diversity while navigating the challenges in a competitive market. McAdam's journey exemplifies the combination of technical acumen and leadership that has defined Verizon's path forward.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Verizon Communications CEOs

V

Lowell C. McAdam

Ex-CEO of Verizon Communications

Education

MBA from San Diego State University

Field of Expertise

Technology & Engineering - Telecommunications

Sector of Economy

Communication Services

Born

May 28, 1954 - 70 years ago

CEO of Verizon Communications for

7 years 0 months (Aug 2011 - Aug 2018)

Previous Experience

President and CEO of Verizon Wireless

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Lowell C. McAdam

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Mark Zuckerberg

Founder and CEO of Meta Platforms, Inc.

2022 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.00

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$27.11M

Total Holdings

$207.33B

A

William F. Gifford, Jr.

CEO of Altria Group

2023 Compensation

Stock

$2.04M

Salary

$1.35M

Bonus

$2.73M

Other

$228.07K

Total Holdings

$36.47M

W

Timothy Charles Wentworth

CEO of Walgreens Boots Alliance

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.50M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$34.03M

A

Sundar Pichai

CEO of Alphabet Inc.

2023 Compensation

Stock

$155.42M

Salary

$2.00M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$6.80M

Total Holdings

$459.19M

A

John Stankey

CEO of AT&T

2023 Compensation

Stock

$12.45M

Salary

$2.40M

Bonus

$6.44M

Other

$359.19K

Total Holdings

$35.31M

C

Brian L. Roberts

CEO of Comcast

2023 Compensation

Stock

$5.32M

Salary

$2.50M

Bonus

$8.55M

Other

$199.05K

Total Holdings

$845.82M

Holdings

See how much did Lowell C. McAdam make over time.

Lowell C. McAdam has been heavily invested in Verizon, owning shares that were valued at over $16 million. His stock holdings peaked around 397,031 shares, illustrating his confidence in the company. Throughout his tenure, he didn't make new stock grants;...

Lowell C. McAdam has been heavily invested in Verizon, owning shares that were valued at over $16 million. His stock holdings peaked around 397,031 shares, illustrating his confidence in the company. Throughout his tenure, he didn't make new stock grants; rather, he benefitted significantly from stock awards. His track record shows that in 2018 alone, he earned over $12 million from vested stocks, which are linked to his performance and time with Verizon. This strategy aligns his financial success directly with the company’s growth, demonstrating his belief in long-term value creation for shareholders. His leadership saw fluctuations in his net worth tied closely to stock performance, making it an essential part of his overall wealth.

Mar 17, 2025

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shares

VZ @ $43.65

Total Stock Sold

$16.20M

VZ

$16.20M

285,988 VZ shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Lowell C. McAdam didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra VZ285,988 shares worth $16.53M.
This is 2.05% and $331.75K more than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

VZ

177,314 shares

VZ

Recent Charitable Transactions

VZ

420 shares

VZ

Dec 13, 2018

Charity

VZ

400 shares

VZ

Dec 28, 2017

Charity

VZ

175,519 shares

VZ

Dec 14, 2017

Charity

VZ

325 shares

VZ

Dec 29, 2016

Charity

VZ

275 shares

VZ

Dec 17, 2015

Charity

VZ

225 shares

VZ

Dec 17, 2014

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Lowell C. McAdam.

VZ

$16.22M

VZ at $56.72/share

Feb 26, 2019

Sale

VZ

420 shares

VZ

Dec 13, 2018

Charity

VZ

400 shares

VZ

Dec 28, 2017

Charity

VZ

175,519 shares

VZ

Dec 14, 2017

Charity

VZ

325 shares

VZ

Dec 29, 2016

Charity

VZ

275 shares

VZ

Dec 17, 2015

Charity

VZ

225 shares

VZ

Dec 17, 2014

Charity

VZ

150 shares

VZ

Dec 20, 2013

Charity

Compensation History

See how much did Lowell C. McAdam make over time.

Lowell C. McAdam's compensation reflects his performance-oriented leadership style. In 2018, his total compensation was approximately $18.6 million, with $12 million derived from vested stock awards. Notably, he received no cash bonuses during that year, highlighting a focus on stock as a reward for achievements. His base salary was around $1.6 million, which is competitive compared to his peers within the industry. This approach illustrates Verizon's commitment to aligning executive pay with its performance goals, incentivizing leaders to drive the company forward while maintaining a strong shareholder focus. Over the years, McAdam's compensation has been closely tied to performance metrics, emphasizing growth in earnings and revenue. His transition to Chairman also secured him a solid package, showcasing that his financial future remains connected to Verizon’s success even after stepping down as CEO.

Year

2018

Total Compensation

$14.28M

Salary

$1.66M

Board Justification

Verizon's compensation philosophy emphasizes performance-based pay, aligning executive compensation with company performance and shareholder interests, while also focusing on retention and competitive market practices.

Bonus

$0.00

Board Justification

No cash bonus was awarded for 2018.

Other

$616.28K

Board Justification

Other compensation includes contributions to retirement plans, life insurance benefits, and other perquisites.

Restricted Stock

$12.00M(12M RSU)

Board Justification

The value of the stock awards that vested in 2018 includes Performance Stock Units (PSUs) and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) that were granted in prior years and vested based on performance metrics and time-based vesting schedules.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for 2018 included adjusted earnings per share (EPS), free cash flow, total revenue, and diversity and sustainability targets.

Other Verizon Communications CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Verizon Communications

Hans E. Vestberg

CEO of Verizon Communications

August 2018 - Present