Michael Skipworth is the President and CEO of Wingstop, taking the reins in March 2022 after serving as Chief Financial Officer. Under his leadership, Wingstop has continued to grow, operating over 1,500 locations worldwide, and focusing on opening new franchises....

Michael Skipworth is the President and CEO of Wingstop, taking the reins in March 2022 after serving as Chief Financial Officer. Under his leadership, Wingstop has continued to grow, operating over 1,500 locations worldwide, and focusing on opening new franchises. Michael's career in finance has been key to Wingstop's success, with a strong emphasis on achieving performance goals. In 2023, he earned a total compensation of $6.66 million, which was largely driven by performance bonuses for exceeding financial targets. Interestingly, while he didn’t receive stock options or stock grants in 2023, his cash compensation highlights a pay-for-performance philosophy that prioritizes results. He has a history of significant insider trading with shares valued in the millions, reflecting confidence in the company’s future. Michael’s journey at Wingstop began in 2014, and he has steadily climbed the ranks, showcasing his deep understanding of the fast-casual dining industry. His strategic decisions continue to shape Wingstop’s path in a competitive market, making him a central figure in the company's ongoing growth.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Wingstop CEOs

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Michael Skipworth

CEO of Wingstop

Field of Expertise

Finance & Banking - Finance

Sector of Economy

Consumer Cyclical

CEO of Wingstop for

3 years 7 months (Aug 2021 - Present)

Previous Experience

Vice President of FP&A at Wingstop; held various finance and strategic leadership positions at The Wendy's Company; various positions at H.J. Heinz Company.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Michael Skipworth

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Joey Wat

CEO of Yum China Holdings

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.43M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$3.99M

Total Holdings

$35.20M

Holdings

See how much did Michael Skipworth make over time.

Michael Skipworth's holdings in Wingstop have seen notable fluctuations, reflecting his strong belief in the company's prospects. Over the years, he has engaged in consistent insider trading, peaking in 2023 where his trades have reached values between $3.16 million and...

Michael Skipworth's holdings in Wingstop have seen notable fluctuations, reflecting his strong belief in the company's prospects. Over the years, he has engaged in consistent insider trading, peaking in 2023 where his trades have reached values between $3.16 million and $9.70 million monthly. His most substantial trades occurred from March 2024 onwards, where his holdings reached up to $10.81 million. With such investments, Skipworth's financial stake in Wingstop demonstrates a long-term commitment to the company's growth. This level of activity not only illustrates his confidence in Wingstop's future but also suggests a well-timed strategy as the company continues to thrive in the fast-casual dining sector, indicating that much of his net worth is tied to the performance of Wingstop shares.

Mar 18, 2025

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shares

WING @ $207.00

Total Stock Sold

$12.93M

WING

$12.93M

79,533 WING shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Michael Skipworth didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra WING79,533 shares worth $7.94M.
This is -38.65% and $5.00M less than what they got when they sold the stock.

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Michael Skipworth.

WING

$3.65M

WING at $336.82/share

Feb 23, 2024

Sale

WING

5,810 shares

WING

Feb 20, 2024

Received

WING

$1.02M

WING at $208.21/share

May 5, 2023

Sale

WING

8,955 shares

WING

Feb 21, 2023

Received

WING

$608.41K

WING at $158.98/share

Oct 31, 2022

Sale

WING

$122.84K

WING at $135.88/share

Mar 3, 2022

Sale

WING

$54.37K

WING at $152.71/share

Feb 15, 2022

Sale

WING

1,291 shares

WING

Feb 15, 2022

Received

WING

$2.58M

WING at $173.71/share

Jul 30, 2021

Sale

WING

$1.69M

WING at $158.88/share

Jul 27, 2021

Sale

Compensation History

See how much did Michael Skipworth make over time.

In 2023, Michael Skipworth's compensation totaled about $6.66 million, reflecting a strong performance-driven strategy. His salary was $750,000, augmented by a bonus of $1.65 million, earned by exceeding aggressive performance metrics. This bonus payout represented 200% of the target due to strong company results. Unlike previous years, he did not receive any stock options or grants, which puts a spotlight on his preference for cash incentives tied directly to performance. The compensation structure emphasizes the need to attract and retain talent aligned with company goals, ultimately rewarding Skipworth for meeting key metrics like Adjusted EBITDA growth. In 2022, his compensation was just $1.70 million, showing how rapidly he has been rewarded for driving Wingstop’s success, making it clear that performance is at the heart of his overall compensation strategy.

Year

2023

Total Compensation

$2.43M

Salary

$750.00K

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy focuses on attracting, retaining, and motivating high-caliber talent aligned with the company's values and performance objectives, emphasizing pay-for-performance.

Bonus

$1.65M

Board Justification

The bonus is based on the achievement of performance goals, with a target annual incentive amount of $825,000, resulting in a payout of 200% of the target due to exceeding performance metrics.

Other

$30.57K

Board Justification

Other compensation includes 401(k) match, company-paid premiums for long-term disability coverage, and other expenses.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 N/A)

Board Justification

No stock grants were vested in 2023 as the focus is on cash compensation and performance-based bonuses.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for determining compensation include Adjusted EBITDA growth and net new unit openings.

Other Wingstop CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Wingstop

Mahesh Sadarangani

Ex-CEO of Wingstop

January 2020 - August 2021