Neil M. Ashe has been the President and CEO of Acuity Brands, Inc. since January 2020. He stepped into this role following a rich history in the tech and retail sectors. Before joining Acuity Brands, Ashe led global eCommerce and...

Neil M. Ashe has been the President and CEO of Acuity Brands, Inc. since January 2020. He stepped into this role following a rich history in the tech and retail sectors. Before joining Acuity Brands, Ashe led global eCommerce and Technology at Walmart from 2012 to 2017. He previously served as President of CBS Interactive, where he oversaw some well-known online properties like CBS.com and CNET.com. Ashe's experience also includes founding and running Faster Horses LLC, a private equity and consulting firm focused on digital growth. This mix of tech and leadership experience gives him a unique perspective in the lighting and building management industry, where he aims to drive innovation and performance. Under Ashe's leadership, Acuity Brands continues to prioritize performance metrics in its compensation strategy, aligning CEO pay with overall company success. Interestingly, his wealth in company shares has seen substantial increases, reflecting trust in his leadership capabilities. Ashe currently sits on the Board of Directors at Vericity, Inc., showcasing his involvement in different business ventures and governance.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Acuity Brands CEOs

A

Neil M. Ashe

CEO of Acuity Brands

Education

Not specified

Field of Expertise

Business & Management

Sector of Economy

Industrials

Born

January 1, 1967 - 58 years ago

CEO of Acuity Brands for

5 years 3 months (Jan 2020 - Present)

Previous Experience

President and Chief Executive Officer, Global eCommerce & Technology at Walmart, Inc.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Neil M. Ashe

O

Michael H. Thaman

CEO of Owens Corning

2019 Compensation

Stock

$2.00M

Salary

$965.91K

Bonus

$282.02K

Other

$88.93K

Total Holdings

$118.49M

D

Richard J. Tobin

CEO of Dover

2023 Compensation

Stock

$3.25M

Salary

$1.29M

Bonus

$2.00M

Other

$207.19K

Total Holdings

$69.71M

H

Gerben W. Bakker

CEO of Hubbell

2022 Compensation

Stock

$1.18M

Salary

$1.03M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$283.94K

Total Holdings

$25.05M

D

Tod E. Carpenter

CEO of Donaldson Company

2022 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.06M

Bonus

$1.28M

Other

$182.89K

Total Holdings

$29.63M

n

Beth A. Wozniak

CEO of nVent Electric plc

2023 Compensation

Stock

$8.77M

Salary

$1.01M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$827.83K

Total Holdings

$39.29M

E

Michael Haack

CEO of Eagle Materials

2023 Compensation

Stock

$975.58K

Salary

$1.04M

Bonus

$2.11M

Other

$108.74K

Total Holdings

$23.57M

Holdings

See how much did Neil M. Ashe make over time.

Neil M. Ashe has shown significant commitment to Acuity Brands through his stock holdings. Over recent years, the value of his holdings has steadily increased, reflecting a growing confidence in the company's future. Starting around 2020, his holdings fluctuated, reaching...

Neil M. Ashe has shown significant commitment to Acuity Brands through his stock holdings. Over recent years, the value of his holdings has steadily increased, reflecting a growing confidence in the company's future. Starting around 2020, his holdings fluctuated, reaching a peak value of approximately $37.67 million in November 2021. After some minor dips, by late 2023, his holdings had surged to over $43 million, peaking at $64.53 million in September 2024. This significant growth indicates not just personal wealth accumulation but also a belief in the strategies and performance of Acuity Brands. Such fluctuations have highlighted his resilience in a competitive market, emphasizing that a majority of his wealth remains tied to the company's success, aligning his interests with those of shareholders.

Mar 18, 2025

A

shares

AYI @ $264.18

W

shares

WMT @ $85.59

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Neil M. Ashe.

AYI

9,243 shares

AYI

Oct 24, 2023

Received

AYI

7,736 shares

AYI

Oct 24, 2022

Received

AYI

6,038 shares

AYI

Oct 25, 2021

Received

WMT

$3.16M

WMT at $66.46/share

Mar 2, 2016

Received

WMT

43,341 shares

WMT

Jan 25, 2016

Received

WMT

$3.99M

WMT at $83.93/share

Mar 2, 2015

Received

WMT

19,745 shares

WMT

Jan 26, 2015

Received

WMT

$2.66M

WMT at $74.12/share

Mar 4, 2014

Received

WMT

50,389 shares

WMT

Jan 24, 2014

Received

WMT

$3.88M

WMT at $73.26/share

Mar 4, 2013

Received

Compensation History

See how much did Neil M. Ashe make over time.

In 2022, Neil M. Ashe's total compensation at Acuity Brands reached about $7.68 million, primarily consisting of a $1 million salary. Ashe has no bonuses for performance, reflecting the company's focus on long-term equity awards instead. Interestingly, his compensation package includes no immediate stock awards, as Acuity prioritizes performance-based equity which vests over multiple years. This model aims to tie incentives directly to the company's financial performance and stock growth. In 2021, his compensation was slightly higher at $7.79 million, thanks to a substantial performance bonus that year. Overall, Ashe's compensation structure not only reflects a commitment to aligning his interests with the company’s success but also indicates a forward-thinking approach to executive pay based on tangible company metrics.

Year

2022

Total Compensation

$1.01M

Salary

$1.00M

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy emphasizes alignment of pay with performance, competitive compensation to attract and retain talent, and a focus on long-term value creation for stockholders.

Bonus

$0.00

Board Justification

No bonus was awarded for fiscal year 2022.

Other

$13.18K

Board Justification

Other compensation includes matching contributions to the 401(k) plan and other benefits.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 RSU)

Board Justification

No stock awards vested in 2022 as the focus was on performance-based stock units (PSUs) and restricted stock units (RSUs) that vest over a multi-year period.

Performance Metrics

Performance metrics include financial performance measures such as net sales, adjusted operating profit, and free cash flow.

Other Acuity Brands CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Acuity Brands

Vernon J. Nagel

Ex-CEO of Acuity Brands

September 2004 - January 2020