Michael C. Kaufmann served as the CEO of Cardinal Health, Inc. from January 2018 until September 2022. Before taking on this role, he was the Chief Financial Officer of the company and had extensive experience in finance, especially in the...

Michael C. Kaufmann served as the CEO of Cardinal Health, Inc. from January 2018 until September 2022. Before taking on this role, he was the Chief Financial Officer of the company and had extensive experience in finance, especially in the pharmaceutical sector. Under his leadership, Cardinal Health focused heavily on improving revenue growth and operational efficiency. His time as CEO was marked by a notable emphasis on performance-based initiatives, aligning both executive compensation and stock options with company metrics. Kaufmann’s tenure saw the company navigate through various financial challenges in the healthcare industry, demonstrating resilience in the face of market fluctuations. He has overseen significant wealth changes, with his insider trading values going as high as $68 million in recent years. His strategic decisions and leadership in finance have heavily influenced Cardinal Health's direction during his executive tenure, transitioning the company towards improved profitability and growth. While Kaufmann has left Cardinal Health, his impact and the path he paved continue to resonate within the organization.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Cardinal Health CEOs

C

Michael C. Kaufmann

Ex-CEO of Cardinal Health

Education

Not specified

Field of Expertise

Finance & Banking - Finance

Sector of Economy

Healthcare

Born

January 1, 1965 - 60 years ago

CEO of Cardinal Health for

4 years 8 months (Jan 2018 - Sep 2022)

Previous Experience

Chief Financial Officer of Cardinal Health, Inc. since November 2014; Chief Executive Officer of Pharmaceutical segment from August 2009 to November 2014.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Michael C. Kaufmann

M

Brian S. Tyler

CEO of McKesson

2023 Compensation

Stock

$53.90M

Salary

$1.49M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$864.73K

Total Holdings

$51.90M

I

Joseph W. Dziedzic

CEO of Integer Holdings

2022 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.23M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$97.75K

Total Holdings

$34.74M

C

Steven H. Collis

CEO of Cencora

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.40M

Bonus

$3.23M

Other

$379.52K

Total Holdings

$127.69M

M

Fred P. Lampropoulos

Founder and CEO of Merit Medical Systems

2023 Compensation

Stock

$2.77M

Salary

$1.89M

Bonus

$1.34M

Other

$8.70K

Total Holdings

$135.21M

H

Karleen M. Oberton

CEO of Hologic

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$183.40K

Bonus

$210.00K

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$6.33M

Holdings

See how much did Michael C. Kaufmann make over time.

Michael C. Kaufmann's holdings at Cardinal Health fluctuated significantly during his time as CEO. His wealth peaked in 2024, reaching over $68 million, showcasing a consistent upward trend in his stock values. In 2022, his stocks were valued at around...

Michael C. Kaufmann's holdings at Cardinal Health fluctuated significantly during his time as CEO. His wealth peaked in 2024, reaching over $68 million, showcasing a consistent upward trend in his stock values. In 2022, his stocks were valued at around $47 million, while they hovered around $40 million earlier that same year. This indicates a robust performance trajectory, particularly with stock price appreciation that highlighted the trust investors had in Kaufmann's leadership. His holdings are primarily in Cardinal Health shares, which not only show his commitment to the company but also reflect his significant interest in its future success. Fluctuations in his wealth were tied to the performance of the company's stock, which at times fell and rose substantially due to market dynamics and company performance, revealing a direct connection between his leadership decisions and shareholder equity.

Mar 17, 2025

C

shares

CAH @ $130.03

Total Stock Sold

$42.41M

CAH

$42.41M

692,902 CAH shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Michael C. Kaufmann didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra CAH692,902 shares worth $34.94M.
This is -17.6% and $7.46M less than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

CAH

4,593 shares

CAH

Recent Charitable Transactions

CAH

3,500 shares

CAH

Aug 8, 2017

Charity

CAH

153 shares

CAH

Aug 4, 2016

Charity

CAH

340 shares

CAH

Aug 4, 2015

Charity

CAH

300 shares

CAH

Jan 23, 2013

Charity

CAH

300 shares

CAH

Jun 30, 2012

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Michael C. Kaufmann.

CAH

132,857 shares

CAH

Aug 9, 2022

Received

CAH

85,106 shares

CAH

Aug 15, 2021

Received

CAH

98,866 shares

CAH

Aug 3, 2021

Received

CAH

74,516 shares

CAH

Aug 15, 2020

Received

CAH

2,717 shares

CAH

Aug 3, 2020

Received

CAH

95,238 shares

CAH

Aug 15, 2019

Received

CAH

63,694 shares

CAH

Jun 28, 2019

Received

CAH

71,642 shares

CAH

Aug 15, 2018

Received

CAH

$1.37M

CAH at $73.90/share

Jan 22, 2018

Sale

CAH

49,188 shares

CAH

Nov 8, 2017

Received

Compensation History

See how much did Michael C. Kaufmann make over time.

In 2022, Michael Kaufmann's total compensation as CEO of Cardinal Health was reported at $2.9 million. This included a base salary of $1.2 million and a cash bonus of $500,000 based on the company's performance metrics, which included revenue growth and operational efficiency. Additionally, Kaufmann had 30,000 shares of restricted stock units that vested, valued at $1.5 million, which further aligned his financial success with the performance of Cardinal Health. Over the years, Kaufmann's compensation highlighted a shift towards more performance-based incentives, illustrating a strategic approach to executive pay that aimed to drive the company towards its financial goals. His earlier compensation in 2021 was notably lower at just $6, showcasing the growth in his role and responsibilities over the last few years before his departure.

Year

2022

Total Compensation

$3.40M

Salary

$1.20M

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy aligns with company performance, peer benchmarking, and retention strategies to attract and retain top executive talent.

Bonus

$500.00K

Board Justification

The bonus is based on the company's performance metrics including revenue growth and operational efficiency for the year 2022.

Other

$200.00K

Board Justification

Other compensation includes retirement contributions and health benefits paid in 2022.

Restricted Stock

$1.50M(30K RSU)

Board Justification

30,000 shares of RSUs vested in 2022 as part of the long-term incentive plan, based on performance criteria being met.

Performance Metrics

Performance metrics include revenue growth, EBITDA margin, and total shareholder return.

Other Cardinal Health CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Cardinal Health

Jason M. Hollar

CEO of Cardinal Health

September 2022 - Present