M. Keith Waddell is the CEO of Robert Half International, a leader in staffing and consulting services. He took the helm as CEO on December 15, 2019, after serving as the company's CFO since 1988. His extensive financial background is...

M. Keith Waddell is the CEO of Robert Half International, a leader in staffing and consulting services. He took the helm as CEO on December 15, 2019, after serving as the company's CFO since 1988. His extensive financial background is a big part of his leadership style. Under his guidance, Robert Half has continued to achieve impressive results, reaching record revenues and net income, reflecting a strong response to market demands. Waddell’s focus on performance-based pay means that a significant chunk of his compensation ties directly to the company’s achievements – this kind of alignment between leadership and company performance is noteworthy. In 2023, his total compensation was about $8.1 million, based largely on robust business performance metrics. Outside of work, he's known for his strategic decision-making, having overseen critical transitions during challenging times, such as the pandemic. This adaptability has kept Robert Half competitive. Waddell’s insider trading has also seen fluctuations, with notable wealth tied to the stock's performance, indicating his vested interest in the company’s success. Overall, under his leadership, Robert Half continues to grow and adapt to the changing business landscape.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Robert Half CEOs

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M. Keith Waddell

CEO of Robert Half

Education

N/A

Field of Expertise

Finance & Banking - Finance

Sector of Economy

Industrials

Born

January 1, 1957 - 68 years ago

CEO of Robert Half for

5 years 3 months (Dec 2019 - Present)

Previous Experience

Vice Chairman since 1999, President since 2004, Chief Financial Officer since 1988

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of M. Keith Waddell

K

Joseph J. Liberatore

CEO of Kforce

2023 Compensation

Stock

$3.03M

Salary

$875.00K

Bonus

$437.50K

Other

$224.33K

Total Holdings

$13.51M

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Jerry E. Gahlhoff, Jr.

CEO of Rollins

2023 Compensation

Stock

$1.04M

Salary

$1.00M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$40.86K

Total Holdings

$15.07M

B

Horacio Rozanski

CEO of Booz Allen Hamilton

2023 Compensation

Stock

$1.50M

Salary

$1.20M

Bonus

$500.00K

Other

$200.00K

Total Holdings

$70.96M

A

Kevin P. Clark

CEO of Aptiv

2019 Compensation

Stock

$19.78M

Salary

$1.42M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$268.27K

Total Holdings

$70.14M

A

Theodore S. Hanson

CEO of ASGN

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.05M

Bonus

$441.00K

Other

$22.46K

Total Holdings

$32.06M

Holdings

See how much did M. Keith Waddell make over time.

M. Keith Waddell’s holdings in Robert Half have shown interesting trends reflecting his commitment to the company. In 2019, his reported holdings reached about $68.77 million and peaked in August 2021 at approximately $130.93 million. However, fluctuations mark his wealth,...

M. Keith Waddell’s holdings in Robert Half have shown interesting trends reflecting his commitment to the company. In 2019, his reported holdings reached about $68.77 million and peaked in August 2021 at approximately $130.93 million. However, fluctuations mark his wealth, with values seeing ups and downs, especially during the pandemic. For instance, as of mid-2023, his holdings were at about $106.97 million before dipping slightly. These changes signal how the stock and business performance impact his financial interests directly. His involvement reflects a strong alignment of interests between him and shareholders, particularly as he has held significant shares since he stepped into the CEO role, indicating confidence in the company's future.

Mar 18, 2025

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shares

RHI @ $54.06

Total Stock Sold

$24.26M

RHI

$24.26M

400,000 RHI shares

What if they kept their stock?

If M. Keith Waddell didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra RHI400,000 shares worth $16.07M.
This is -33.78% and $8.20M less than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

RHI

485,500 shares

RHI

Recent Charitable Transactions

RHI

13,000 shares

RHI

Nov 28, 2023

Charity

RHI

14,000 shares

RHI

Dec 31, 2022

Charity

RHI

10,000 shares

RHI

Dec 31, 2021

Charity

RHI

15,000 shares

RHI

Dec 31, 2020

Charity

RHI

15,000 shares

RHI

Dec 31, 2019

Charity

RHI

20,000 shares

RHI

Dec 31, 2018

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of M. Keith Waddell.

RHI

106,053 shares

RHI

Mar 19, 2024

Received

RHI

13,000 shares

RHI

Nov 28, 2023

Charity

RHI

114,691 shares

RHI

Mar 20, 2023

Received

RHI

14,000 shares

RHI

Dec 31, 2022

Charity

RHI

93,561 shares

RHI

Mar 23, 2022

Received

RHI

10,000 shares

RHI

Dec 31, 2021

Charity

RHI

77,013 shares

RHI

Mar 11, 2021

Received

RHI

15,000 shares

RHI

Dec 31, 2020

Charity

RHI

18,733 shares

RHI

Mar 30, 2020

Received

RHI

68,441 shares

RHI

Feb 12, 2020

Received

Compensation History

See how much did M. Keith Waddell make over time.

M. Keith Waddell’s compensation as CEO of Robert Half has been tied closely to the company's performance. For 2023, his total compensation was around $8.1 million, made up of a base salary of $500,000, a bonus of about $2.06 million, and stock awards valued at over $9 million, which reflects the success of previous performance metrics. The bonus structure is designed to meet revenue and net income goals, with a performance payout of 83.1% of the target in 2023. This pay-for-performance philosophy shows his commitment to shareholders’ interests, significantly tying his earnings to how well the company does. Each year, his compensation details reflect a blend of immediate performance rewards and long-term stock incentives, aligning his interests with those of the company's future growth.

Year

2023

Total Compensation

$12.22M

Salary

$500.00K

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy emphasizes performance-based pay, aligning CEO compensation with company performance and stockholder interests, with a significant portion of total compensation tied to performance metrics.

Bonus

$2.06M

Board Justification

The 2023 bonus was calculated based on performance metrics including revenue and net income, with actual performance resulting in a payout of 83.1% of the target bonus.

Other

$383.77K

Board Justification

Other compensation includes contributions to the Senior Executive Retirement Plan and other benefits.

Restricted Stock

$9.28M(123.03K RSU)

Board Justification

The stock that vested in 2023 was based on performance share awards granted in prior years, with the performance conditions met, resulting in the vesting of 123,028 shares.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for determining compensation included revenue and net income targets, with actual performance resulting in bonuses being paid at 83.1% of target.

Other Robert Half CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Robert Half

Harold M. Messmer, Jr.

Ex-CEO of Robert Half

December 1985 - December 2019