Paul W. Jones has been a key figure at A. O. Smith Corporation, serving as CEO and later as Executive Chairman. He led the company through significant times, notably transitioning from CEO to Executive Chairman as part of a planned...

Paul W. Jones has been a key figure at A. O. Smith Corporation, serving as CEO and later as Executive Chairman. He led the company through significant times, notably transitioning from CEO to Executive Chairman as part of a planned leadership change. His tenure saw A. O. Smith maintain strong financial performance, often exceeding return on equity targets that directly influenced his compensation and bonuses. Paul was awarded a bonus of $1.25 million for achieving a 121.9% target in 2012 alone. His commitment to aligning executive compensation with company performance helped shape a culture of accountability and results. Interestingly, in the world of insider trading, Paul’s ownership levels varied significantly, reaching a high of around $20 million just months before his retirement announcement. He has a rich background in leadership roles not just at A. O. Smith, but also at U.S. Can Company and Greenfield Industries. After retiring, he continued to influence the company as a board member, reflecting his long-term commitment to the organization and its strategic direction.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other A. O. Smith CEOs

A

Paul W. Jones

Ex-CEO of A. O. Smith

Sector of Economy

Industrials

Born

July 30, 2024 - 0 years ago

CEO of A. O. Smith for

7 years 2 months (Oct 2005 - Dec 2012)

Previous Experience

Unknown

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Paul W. Jones

W

Donald G. Macpherson

CEO of W.W. Grainger

2023 Compensation

Stock

$6.63M

Salary

$1.10M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$317.29K

Total Holdings

$126.49M

I

Vicente Reynal

CEO of Ingersoll Rand

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.13M

Bonus

$3.43M

Other

$175.95K

Total Holdings

$65.37M

W

Deidra C. Merriwether

CEO of W.W. Grainger

2023 Compensation

Stock

$2.00M

Salary

$693.84K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$110.88K

Total Holdings

$12.82M

F

R. Scott Rowe

CEO of Flowserve

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.20M

Bonus

$2.67M

Other

$21.00K

Total Holdings

$19.70M

E

Andrea J. Funk

CEO of EnerSys

2023 Compensation

Stock

$250.00K

Salary

$450.00K

Bonus

$100.00K

Other

$50.00K

Total Holdings

$4.45M

Holdings

See how much did Paul W. Jones make over time.

Paul W. Jones's trading activity reflects notable fluctuations in his stock holdings at A. O. Smith. He saw his holdings peak at around $20 million in mid-2024. Before this, his portfolio fluctuated from approximately $11.78 million in early 2019 to...

Paul W. Jones's trading activity reflects notable fluctuations in his stock holdings at A. O. Smith. He saw his holdings peak at around $20 million in mid-2024. Before this, his portfolio fluctuated from approximately $11.78 million in early 2019 to $19.72 million in mid-2024. These values demonstrate how his wealth directly tied to the company's stock performance, showcasing not just investment acumen but also a keen sense of timing and management efficiency. After his retirement, regular transactions indicate a strategic approach to managing his post-career investments, with stocks valued between $12 million to $16 million being the norm up until 2024, suggesting a well-planned approach to wealth management and exit strategy.

Mar 18, 2025

A

shares

AOS @ $67.66

Total Stock Sold

$32.73M

AOS

$32.73M

1,940,417 AOS shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Paul W. Jones didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra AOS1,940,417 shares worth $78.02M.
This is 138.38% and $45.29M more than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

AOS

241,877 shares

AOS

Recent Charitable Transactions

AOS

51,320 shares

AOS

Aug 21, 2018

Charity

AOS

13,557 shares

AOS

Apr 9, 2018

Charity

AOS

15,000 shares

AOS

Feb 6, 2017

Charity

AOS

15,000 shares

AOS

Dec 31, 2015

Charity

AOS

20,000 shares

AOS

Feb 9, 2015

Charity

AOS

40,000 shares

AOS

Jul 24, 2014

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Paul W. Jones.

AOS

$1.68M

AOS at $52.52/share

Nov 2, 2020

Sale

AOS

$117.31K

AOS at $49.83/share

Aug 12, 2020

Sale

AOS

$130.02K

AOS at $40.02/share

Apr 15, 2020

Received

AOS

$2.52K

AOS at $45.88/share

Jul 8, 2019

Received

AOS

$49.50K

AOS at $49.50/share

May 9, 2019

Sale

AOS

$125.02K

AOS at $54.38/share

Apr 9, 2019

Received

AOS

$980.00K

AOS at $49.00/share

Feb 8, 2019

Sale

AOS

$413.90K

AOS at $45.99/share

Nov 13, 2018

Sale

AOS

$270.50K

AOS at $58.92/share

Aug 21, 2018

Sale

AOS

51,320 shares

AOS

Aug 21, 2018

Charity

Compensation History

See how much did Paul W. Jones make over time.

During his time at A. O. Smith, Paul W. Jones's compensation reflected both the company's performance and his role as a leader. In 2012, for example, his total compensation was around $1,251,550, which included a salary of $1,030,000 and an eye-catching bonus of $1,256,000 driven by his success in achieving financial targets. This was not an isolated incident; for instance, in 2011, his total compensation was over $7.5 million, demonstrating the company's pay-for-performance philosophy. His bonuses often stemmed from exceeding return on equity goals, emphasizing a direct link between executive rewards and shareholder returns. His package included various benefits alongside the salary and bonuses, ensuring he was motivated to drive the company forward. The structured approach to executive compensation during his time helped set a standard for aligning leadership incentives with company outcomes.

Year

2012

Total Compensation

$2.47M

Salary

$1.03M

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy aims to attract and retain world-class executives through competitive total compensation, encouraging a pay-for-performance mentality, and promoting alignment with stockholder interests.

Bonus

$1.26M

Board Justification

The annual incentive bonus for 2012 based on achieving a target financial measure of 11.36% Return on Equity, which was achieved at 121.9% of the target.

Other

$181.55K

Board Justification

Other compensation includes contributions to retirement and 401(k) plans, dividends on restricted stock, perquisite allowance, and other benefits.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 N/A)

Board Justification

No stock awards vested in 2012 as the amounts listed are for stock awards granted, not vested.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for determining the compensation included achieving a target financial measure of Return on Equity.

Other A. O. Smith CEOs

Here are other CEOs of A. O. Smith

Ajita G. Rajendra

Ex-CEO of A. O. Smith

January 2013 - August 2018