Robert A. McDonald served as the CEO of Procter & Gamble from 2009 until his retirement in 2013 after a notable 33-year career with the company. Under his leadership, he was deeply involved in shaping the company’s strong reputation for...

Robert A. McDonald served as the CEO of Procter & Gamble from 2009 until his retirement in 2013 after a notable 33-year career with the company. Under his leadership, he was deeply involved in shaping the company’s strong reputation for quality and innovation in consumer products, including brands like Tide, Charmin, and Pampers. In 2013, McDonald made headlines with a $19.5 million earnings package, including a base salary of $2 million and a performance bonus of $4.4 million, demonstrating a strong alignment between executive pay and company performance. Interestingly, rather than a lucrative retirement package, he adhered to standard company practices without special post-retirement compensation. As of late 2019, his stock holdings in P&G were valued at nearly $28 million, reflecting his commitment to the company's long-term success. A business graduate from the University of Utah and an MBA from the Wharton School, McDonald’s tenure exemplified how proper performance metrics can directly influence CEO compensation, as most of his earnings were tied to the company's financial results. This encapsulates the adage that in business, results matter and are rewarded accordingly.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Procter & Gamble CEOs

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Robert A. McDonald

Ex-CEO of Procter & Gamble

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Utah and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Field of Expertise

Business & Management

Sector of Economy

Consumer Defensive

Born

June 20, 1953 - 71 years ago

CEO of Procter & Gamble for

3 years 10 months (Jul 2009 - May 2013)

Previous Experience

President - Global Fabric & Home Care

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Robert A. McDonald

C

Noel R. Wallace

CEO of Colgate-Palmolive

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.48M

Bonus

$4.73M

Other

$929.86K

Total Holdings

$50.27M

C

James Quincey

CEO of Coca-Cola

2023 Compensation

Stock

$43.34M

Salary

$1.60M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$625.06K

Total Holdings

$90.50M

T

Brian Cornell

CEO of Target

2023 Compensation

Stock

$13.57M

Salary

$1.40M

Bonus

$831.60K

Other

$469.04K

Total Holdings

$71.48M

W

C. Douglas McMillon

CEO of Walmart

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.47M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$199.58K

Total Holdings

$433.19M

C

Benno Dorer

CEO of Clorox

2022 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$740.00K

Bonus

$1.26M

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$25.02M

B

Warren E. Buffett

CEO of Berkshire Hathaway

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$100.00K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$313.60K

Total Holdings

$162.98B

Holdings

See how much did Robert A. McDonald make over time.

Robert A. McDonald had significant stock holdings in Procter & Gamble, where his personal shares were valued at over $12 million in 2019. His total stock holdings, including those from retirement plans and trusts, reached nearly $28 million by late...

Robert A. McDonald had significant stock holdings in Procter & Gamble, where his personal shares were valued at over $12 million in 2019. His total stock holdings, including those from retirement plans and trusts, reached nearly $28 million by late 2019. This shows not only his financial commitment to the company but also how he capitalized on his role over the years. At his peak, he had substantial wealth tied up in P&G stock, reflecting a belief in the company’s future and a strong personal financial stake in its performance. This strategic positioning allowed McDonald to benefit from the company’s growth while aligning his interests with those of P&G shareholders. However, as he transitioned into retirement, his focus shifted away from compensation gains to the legacy and long-term impact he had on the organization.

Jan 24, 2025

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shares

PG @ $164.12

X

shares

X @ $37.41

Total Stock Sold

$8.77M

PG

$8.77M

131,521 PG shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Robert A. McDonald didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra PG131,521 shares worth $15.08M.
This is 71.98% and $6.31M more than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

PG

14,346 shares

PG

Recent Charitable Transactions

PG

5,564 shares

PG

Oct 26, 2012

Charity

PG

1,205 shares

PG

Apr 30, 2012

Charity

PG

6,299 shares

PG

Oct 31, 2011

Charity

PG

1,278 shares

PG

Apr 29, 2011

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Robert A. McDonald.

X

$100.00K

X at $26.11/share

Feb 17, 2014

Received

X

$58.33K

X at $26.11/share

Jul 29, 2014

Received

X

1,000 shares

X

Jan 3, 2014

Received

X

$29.84K

X at $29.84/share

Jan 3, 2014

Purchase

PG

$390.25K

PG at $70.14/share

Oct 26, 2012

Purchase

PG

5,564 shares

PG

Oct 26, 2012

Charity

PG

$8.76M

PG at $66.61/share

Aug 13, 2012

Sale

PG

1,205 shares

PG

Apr 30, 2012

Charity

PG

$76.57K

PG at $63.55/share

Apr 30, 2012

Purchase

PG

6,299 shares

PG

Oct 31, 2011

Charity

Compensation History

See how much did Robert A. McDonald make over time.

In 2013, Robert A. McDonald’s total compensation at Procter & Gamble was approximately $19.5 million. His base salary was $2 million, with a notable bonus payout of $4.4 million from the STAR Annual Bonus Program, which was based on the company's annual performance. Most of his earnings came from a long-term incentive compensation structure, including more than $12 million in valued stock awards. The company emphasized a philosophy of pay-for-performance, meaning his earnings were closely tied to how well P&G performed financially. This compensation structure was designed not only to reward him for achieving specific business goals but also to align his financial interests with those of the shareholders. McDonald’s pay reflected a significant investment in the company’s product-driven success, ensuring that he was motivated to deliver results that benefited everyone involved with P&G.

Year

2013

Total Compensation

$19.50M

Salary

$2.00M

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy emphasizes pay for performance, aligning executive compensation with company performance and shareholder interests, while maintaining competitive compensation practices.

Bonus

$4.40M

Board Justification

The STAR Annual Bonus Program, which is based on the achievement of one-year business goals, resulted in a payout of $4,400,000 for Mr. McDonald, which is 88% of his target bonus of $5,000,000.

Other

$873.77K

Board Justification

Other compensation includes retirement plan contributions, executive group life insurance, flexible compensation program contributions, expatriate, relocation, and tax equalization payments, and other executive benefits.

Restricted Stock

$12.23M(176.1K RSUs and PSUs)

Board Justification

The total grant date fair value of the stock awards, including 91,351 RSUs and 84,753 PSUs, that vested in 2013-14 is $12,230,582.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for determining Mr. McDonald's compensation included organic sales growth and core EPS growth.

Other Procter & Gamble CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Procter & Gamble

A.G. Lafley

Ex-CEO of Procter & Gamble

June 2013 - October 2015