Stephen F. Angel led Linde plc as CEO from October 2018 until March 2022, transitioning to Chairman after his retirement. Before this, he was CEO at Praxair for over a decade and spent 22 years in various roles at General...

Stephen F. Angel led Linde plc as CEO from October 2018 until March 2022, transitioning to Chairman after his retirement. Before this, he was CEO at Praxair for over a decade and spent 22 years in various roles at General Electric. His leadership at Linde saw the company thrive in the industrial gas sector, generating about $33 billion in revenue in 2023. In 2019, he earned almost $23 million, a combination of salary, bonuses, and perks. Even though his pay decreased leading up to retirement, he had significant financial strategies, deferring shares from his compensation to allow for future growth. Angel had personal benefits that included substantial matching contributions to his retirement plan and access to company aircraft for personal use, which indicated his deep engagement with the company's success. His retirement plan is robust, with years of service from GE credited to his pension, showing a solid commitment to the company’s long-term stability. After retiring, he now oversees the board as Chairman, ensuring a continuity of leadership at Linde, a leading global supplier of industrial gases.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Linde CEOs

L

Stephen F. Angel

Ex-CEO of Linde

Field of Expertise

Business & Management

Sector of Economy

Basic Materials

Born

April 10, 1958 - 66 years ago

CEO of Linde for

3 years 4 months (Oct 2018 - Mar 2022)

Previous Experience

Chief Executive Officer of Praxair, Inc. since January 1, 2007, and Chairman since May 1, 2007.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Stephen F. Angel

A

Jim Cracchiolo

CEO of Ameriprise Financial

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.25M

Bonus

$8.38M

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$101.57M

Holdings

See how much did Stephen F. Angel make over time.

During his tenure, Stephen Angel had substantial personal wealth tied to Linde’s stock. At one point, his holdings included over 400,000 shares, amounting to values around $30 million. These holdings reflect a strong alignment with shareholder interests, as he was...

During his tenure, Stephen Angel had substantial personal wealth tied to Linde’s stock. At one point, his holdings included over 400,000 shares, amounting to values around $30 million. These holdings reflect a strong alignment with shareholder interests, as he was required to maintain significant company stock. His financial strategy involved deferring stock payments, allowing potential growth in value until he chose to cash in. However, after his retirement in March 2022, his holdings began to lessen as he transitioned to cashing in some shares for his retirement benefits, showcasing a methodical approach to personal finance that kept his wealth growing with the company's success. His trust in Linde is evident as he continued to defer stock payouts until the right time.

Mar 18, 2025

G

shares

GE @ $200.79

L

shares

LIN @ $460.71

Total Stock Sold

$110.60M

LIN

$110.60M

366,389 LIN shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Stephen F. Angel didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra LIN366,389 shares worth $68.49M.
This is -38.07% and $42.11M less than what they got when they sold the stock.

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Stephen F. Angel.

GE

1,165 shares

GE

May 6, 2024

Received

LIN

$17.96M

LIN at $453.66/share

Mar 4, 2024

Sale

LIN

$15.55M

LIN at $391.62/share

Aug 1, 2023

Sale

LIN

$16.87M

LIN at $372.35/share

May 1, 2023

Sale

LIN

$24.53M

LIN at $330.51/share

Nov 11, 2022

Sale

LIN

$14.72M

LIN at $262.91/share

Nov 9, 2020

Sale

LIN

$304.94K

LIN at $152.47/share

Mar 16, 2020

Purchase

LIN

$324.80K

LIN at $162.40/share

Mar 12, 2020

Purchase

LIN

$527.78K

LIN at $175.93/share

Mar 9, 2020

Purchase

LIN

$11.16M

LIN at $197.27/share

Jun 6, 2019

Sale

Compensation History

See how much did Stephen F. Angel make over time.

In 2022, Steve Angel's total compensation was about $362,000, primarily coming from his salary and additional benefits as he began his retirement. In previous years, he had higher compensation, peaking at nearly $23 million in 2019 due to strong performance bonuses and benefits. His pay structure included various incentives, but following his retirement, compensation changed, reflecting his new role as Chairman rather than CEO. He had notable benefits such as contributions to his 401(k) retirement account, personal use of corporate aircraft, and comprehensive executive insurance, indicating the valued approach Linde had towards its leadership. This compensation philosophy aligned with motivating executives to drive company performance while securing their financial futures as they exit the firm.

Year

2022

Total Compensation

$362.54K

Salary

$333.33K

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy aims to attract and retain talented executives, motivate them to deliver strong business results, and align their interests with those of shareholders.

Bonus

$0.00

Board Justification

No annual performance-based variable compensation was paid to Mr. Angel in 2022 as he retired in March 2022.

Other

$29.21K

Board Justification

Other compensation includes matching contributions to the Company’s U.S. 401(k) Plan and other benefits.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 RSU)

Board Justification

No stock awards were granted to Mr. Angel in 2022 as he retired in March 2022.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for 2022 included financial performance measures such as net income and return on capital, but Mr. Angel did not participate in these due to his retirement.

Other Linde CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Linde

Sanjiv Lamba

CEO of Linde

March 2022 - Present