Michael Speetzen is the CEO of Polaris Inc., a role he stepped into on April 30, 2021, after serving as the Interim CEO. Before joining Polaris in August 2015, he worked as the CFO at Xylem, a water technology company. He has a strong background in finance, holding an MBA from the Thunderbird School of Global Management and a Bachelor's in Management from Purdue University. Speetzen is known for his no-nonsense approach to leadership and has a history of driving financial performance and strategy in the companies he's worked with. He leads Polaris with transparency and has focused on aligning executive compensation with company performance, highlighting the importance of accountability. In 2023, his total compensation included a salary of $1.12 million and stock options, showing his investment in the company’s long-term success. He aims to keep Polaris at the forefront of the powersports industry, ensuring it continues to innovate and expand.

Quick Links

Michael Speetzen

CEO of Polaris

Education

MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management; Bachelor's in Management from Purdue University.

Field of Expertise

Finance & Banking - Finance

Sector of Economy

Consumer Cyclical

Born

April 1, 1970 - 55 years ago

CEO of Polaris for

3 years 11 months (Apr 2021 - Present)

Previous Experience

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Polaris

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Michael Speetzen

David M. Foulkes

CEO of Brunswick

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.16M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$389.62K

Total Holdings

$16.97M

Lillian Etzkorn

CEO of LCI Industries

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$525.00K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$259.26K

Total Holdings

$1.09M

Michael J. Happe

CEO of Winnebago Industries

2022 Compensation

Stock

$250.00K

Salary

$800.00K

Bonus

$200.00K

Other

$50.00K

Total Holdings

$18.21M

Nicholas I. Fink

CEO of Fortune Brands Innovations

2023 Compensation

Stock

$7.31M

Salary

$1.24M

Bonus

$1.97M

Other

$275.23K

Total Holdings

$19.20M

Jochen Zeitz

CEO of Harley-Davidson

2023 Compensation

Stock

$6.50M

Salary

$1.95M

Bonus

$1.50M

Other

$411.65K

Total Holdings

$19.13M

Robert W. Martin

CEO of Thor Industries

2019 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$750.00K

Bonus

$5.53M

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$31.84M

Holdings

See how much did Michael Speetzen make over time.

As CEO of Polaris, Michael Speetzen has shown a significant commitment to his company's performance through stock options and other incentives. In 2023, he was granted 78,456 stock options, which will become available in stages over the next few years. His equity awards in stocks and options reflect his long-term strategy, aligning his financial interests with that of Polaris. During his leadership, the value of his granted shares increased, contributing substantially to his overall wealth. Previously, his financial portfolio showed varied performance, with vested stocks bringing in millions from earlier years. As of now, the strategic focus remains on performance-based compensation, signaling a period of rigorous growth and measured risk-taking in the market. This approach clearly illustrates his belief that aligning interests with shareholders and stakeholders can drive the company forward effectively.

Total Stock Sold

$23.37M

PII

$20.32M

163,841 PII shares

XYL

$3.05M

79,326 XYL shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Michael Speetzen didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra PII163,841 shares worth $7.98M and XYL79,326 shares worth $5.25M.
This is -43.37% and $10.13M less than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

PII

8,642 shares

PII

Recent Charitable Transactions

PII

2,329 shares

PII

Feb 26, 2025

Charity

PII

910 shares

PII

Dec 14, 2023

Charity

PII

1,890 shares

PII

Aug 1, 2023

Charity

PII

640 shares

PII

Dec 22, 2022

Charity

PII

833 shares

PII

Dec 20, 2021

Charity

PII

632 shares

PII

Dec 9, 2020

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Michael Speetzen.

PII

777 shares

PII

Feb 26, 2025

Charity

PII

2,329 shares

PII

Feb 26, 2025

Charity

PII

76,615 shares

PII

Jan 29, 2025

Received

PNR

1,643 shares

PNR

Jan 2, 2025

Received

PII

27,128 shares

PII

Jan 31, 2024

Received

PNR

2,256 shares

PNR

Jan 2, 2024

Received

PII

364 shares

PII

Dec 14, 2023

Charity

PII

910 shares

PII

Dec 14, 2023

Charity

PII

1,890 shares

PII

Aug 1, 2023

Charity

PII

$8.26M

PII at $135.84/share

Jul 27, 2023

Sale

Compensation History

See how much did Michael Speetzen make over time.

Michael Speetzen's compensation in 2023 totaled approximately $8.87 million. This includes a base salary of $1.12 million along with stock options valued at around $3.4 million. Notably, he received no bonuses for the year, emphasizing the performance-based structure of his pay. In terms of long-term incentives, he was awarded substantial stock options that will vest over the coming years, showcasing his alignment with the company's future success. The compensation package he receives underscores the value the board places on linking executive pay to the company's performance and overall shareholder value. This framework not only encourages productivity but also positions Polaris to be competitive within the industry. Michael's approach is straightforward and focused on results, ensuring that he is rewarded for tangible performance outcomes.

Year

2023

Total Compensation

$1.34M

Salary

$1.12M

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy is based on a pay-for-performance model that aligns executive compensation with corporate strategy and performance metrics.

Bonus

$0.00

Board Justification

No bonus was awarded for the year 2023.

Other

$220.56K

Board Justification

Includes Company matching contributions to the 401(k) Plan and SERP, life insurance premiums, and the aggregate incremental cost of perquisites.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 RSU)

Board Justification

No stock was vested in 2023 as the focus is on stock grants and options that are not included in total calculations.

Performance Metrics

The primary performance metric for determining payout of the annual cash incentive award was adjusted earnings per diluted share (Adjusted EPS).

Other Polaris CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Polaris

Scott W. Wine

Ex-CEO of Polaris

October 2008 - April 2021