Scott L. Morris has been the driving force behind Avista Corporation, serving as CEO from January 2008 until his retirement in March 2020. He started with the company in 1981 and gradually climbed the ranks, holding various management positions. Scott...

Scott L. Morris has been the driving force behind Avista Corporation, serving as CEO from January 2008 until his retirement in March 2020. He started with the company in 1981 and gradually climbed the ranks, holding various management positions. Scott has an academic background in Business Administration and has completed programs at notable institutions like Gonzaga University and Stanford Business School. His experience in the utility industry spans decades, giving him deep insights into the sector. Under his leadership, the company's compensation framework was heavily focused on performance, aligning executive pay with company success, emphasizing metrics like earnings per share and customer satisfaction. Despite his significant role in the company, he announced his retirement in 2019, paving the way for Dennis P. Vermillion to step up as CEO. Scott remains involved with the company as the Executive Chairman of the Board. His lengthy involvement in various leadership roles, including significant contributions to Avista's subsidiaries, showcases a career dedicated to the utility sector.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Avista CEOs

A

Scott L. Morris

Ex-CEO of Avista

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration

Field of Expertise

Business & Management

Sector of Economy

Utilities

Born

January 1, 1960 - 65 years ago

CEO of Avista for

11 years 2 months (Jan 2009 - Mar 2020)

Previous Experience

President of Avista Corporation

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Scott L. Morris

B

Linden R. Evans

CEO of Black Hills

2023 Compensation

Stock

$1.14M

Salary

$893.33K

Bonus

$1.37M

Other

$607.73K

Total Holdings

$10.37M

A

Warner L. Baxter

CEO of Ameren

2021 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.30M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$158.48K

Total Holdings

$23.31M

N

Stephen D. Westhoven

CEO of New Jersey Resources

2023 Compensation

Stock

$1.41M

Salary

$938.25K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$75.31K

Total Holdings

$8.28M

N

Lloyd Yates

CEO of NiSource

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.04M

Bonus

$2.50M

Other

$466.59K

Total Holdings

$10.10M

O

Sean Trauschke

CEO of OGE Energy

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.16M

Bonus

$1.49M

Other

$154.25K

Total Holdings

$24.83M

Holdings

See how much did Scott L. Morris make over time.

During his time at Avista, Scott's compensation reflected substantial performance incentives. For example, in 2020, he earned over $5 million, primarily from a combination of salary, bonuses, and vested stock. His 2019 total was slightly lower at about $4.6 million,...

During his time at Avista, Scott's compensation reflected substantial performance incentives. For example, in 2020, he earned over $5 million, primarily from a combination of salary, bonuses, and vested stock. His 2019 total was slightly lower at about $4.6 million, yet highlighted a steady upward trend over his tenure, peaking in 2020 while also demonstrating the impact of key performance targets over the years. His total compensation fluctuated greatly, from approximately $361,949 in 2015 to over $5 million in 2020, clearly indicating the success of performance-related pay structures. This growth underscores how tied his financial success was to Avista's overall performance, showing a clear alignment with shareholder interests throughout his leadership.

Total Stock Sold

$11.19M

AVA

$11.19M

291,050 AVA shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Scott L. Morris didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra AVA291,050 shares worth $12.23M.
This is 9.34% and $1.04M more than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

AVA

138,206 shares

AVA

Recent Charitable Transactions

AVA

$302.75K

AVA at $39.92/share

Mar 4, 2025

Charity

AVA

$20.00K

AVA at $39.13/share

Nov 26, 2024

Charity

AVA

$149.98K

AVA at $37.95/share

May 9, 2024

Charity

AVA

$247.68K

AVA at $33.47/share

Mar 6, 2024

Charity

AVA

$100.23K

AVA at $44.39/share

May 9, 2023

Charity

AVA

$249.95K

AVA at $41.43/share

Feb 27, 2023

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Scott L. Morris.

AVA

$302.75K

AVA at $39.92/share

Mar 4, 2025

Charity

AVA

$20.00K

AVA at $39.13/share

Nov 26, 2024

Charity

AVA

$1.66K

AVA at $38.64/share

Sep 3, 2024

Received

AVA

$149.98K

AVA at $37.95/share

May 9, 2024

Charity

AVA

$129.98K

AVA at $36.79/share

May 3, 2024

Received

AVA

$247.68K

AVA at $33.47/share

Mar 6, 2024

Charity

AVA

$1.66K

AVA at $33.29/share

Sep 1, 2023

Received

AVA

$100.42K

AVA at $32.39/share

Aug 24, 2023

Purchase

AVA

$124.97K

AVA at $44.02/share

May 15, 2023

Received

AVA

$100.23K

AVA at $44.39/share

May 9, 2023

Charity

Compensation History

See how much did Scott L. Morris make over time.

In 2020, Scott L. Morris's total compensation reached around $5 million, which was a noticeable increase from the previous year. His 2020 earnings were made up of a base salary of $737,693, a cash bonus of $1,778,775 based on performance metrics, and the value of vested stock. This compensation structure is designed to tie executive pay heavily to the company’s success, with a large part of his income linked directly to achieving set performance goals, like improving customer satisfaction and increasing profits. Past years also showed high bonuses, especially in 2018 and 2019, where he received significant cash awards, reflecting his contributions to Avista's growth. Morris's compensation history illustrates a consistent pattern of rewarding performance, beneficial both for him and the shareholders, aligning their interests well.

Year

2020

Total Compensation

$3.06M

Salary

$737.69K

Board Justification

The compensation program is designed to align the interests of our NEOs with those of our shareholders and to pay for achieved performance, with a significant portion of compensation linked to specific corporate performance goals.

Bonus

$1.78M

Board Justification

The actual annual cash incentive plan amount paid in early 2021 for 2020 performance, based on performance metrics achieved.

Other

$120.88K

Board Justification

Includes employer matching contributions under both the EDC Plan and the Investment and Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the 401(k) plan).

Restricted Stock

$418.77K(8.19K RSU)

Board Justification

The value of the RSUs that vested in early 2021, which are time-based and vest over a three-year period.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for the CEO's compensation in 2020 included Consolidated Earnings Per Share, customer satisfaction, and operational performance.

Other Avista CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Avista

Dennis P. Vermillion

Ex-CEO of Avista

October 2019 - January 2025