Steve Cahillane is the CEO and Chairman of Kellanova, a leading player in the global food industry, known for its popular brands like Pringles, Special K, and Eggo. He took over as CEO on October 2, 2017, after successfully leading...

Steve Cahillane is the CEO and Chairman of Kellanova, a leading player in the global food industry, known for its popular brands like Pringles, Special K, and Eggo. He took over as CEO on October 2, 2017, after successfully leading Alphabet Holding Company and The Nature's Bounty Co. What's notable is his previous role as President of Coca-Cola Americas, managing a whopping $25 billion in sales. His expertise spans several key areas, especially in consumer products and strategic planning, which he honed through working at various high-profile companies. In 2023, Cahillane's total compensation was about $4.17 million, which was mainly linked to his performance. Interestingly, during his term at Kellanova, his stock holdings saw significant fluctuations, peaking in value around $49.27 million in September 2024, highlighting both risk and opportunity in his investments. Even before joining Kellanova, his solid track record showed he’s used to navigating complex business environments, making him a fitting leader for a major player in the food market.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

K

Steve Cahillane

CEO of Kellanova

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Northwestern University; M.B.A., Harvard University

Field of Expertise

Business & Management

Sector of Economy

Consumer Defensive

CEO of Kellanova for

7 years 6 months (Oct 2017 - Present)

Previous Experience

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Kellanova

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Steve Cahillane

M

Dirk Van de Put

CEO of Mondelez International

2023 Compensation

Stock

$23.62M

Salary

$1.55M

Bonus

$4.42M

Other

$923.66K

Total Holdings

$74.54M

B

Ethan Brown

Founder and CEO of Beyond Meat

2022 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$500.00K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$14.13K

Total Holdings

$8.18M

T

Carlos Abrams-Rivera

CEO of The Kraft Heinz Company

2023 Compensation

Stock

$4.71M

Salary

$800.00K

Bonus

$2.26M

Other

$488.03K

Total Holdings

$19.28M

Holdings

See how much did Steve Cahillane make over time.

Steve Cahillane has seen his wealth tied up in Kellanova stock, which peaked at about $49.27 million in September 2024. Over the years, he made significant insider trades, with his holdings fluctuating; for example, in March 2023, the value was...

Steve Cahillane has seen his wealth tied up in Kellanova stock, which peaked at about $49.27 million in September 2024. Over the years, he made significant insider trades, with his holdings fluctuating; for example, in March 2023, the value was around $34.04 million. This pattern demonstrates a typical high-risk, high-reward scenario common among executives. His wealth often surged with Kellanova's performance in the competitive food sector, which emphasizes both the risks involved in trading and the potential returns that come from being aligned with the company's financial health. His strategy seems to involve navigating these ups and downs, capitalizing on his insider knowledge while staying committed to leading the company to sustained growth.

Total Stock Sold

$1.75M

KO

$1.75M

104,584 KO shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Steve Cahillane didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra KO104,584 shares worth $4.88M.
This is 179.29% and $3.13M more than what they got when they sold the stock.

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Steve Cahillane.

CL

1,905 shares

CL

May 13, 2024

Received

CL

$18.70K

CL at $72.76/share

Oct 2, 2023

Received

CL

$18.70K

CL at $76.32/share

Jul 3, 2023

Received

CL

2,035 shares

CL

May 15, 2023

Received

CL

$18.75K

CL at $72.95/share

Apr 3, 2023

Received

K

142,635 shares

K

Feb 17, 2023

Received

K

85,576 shares

K

Feb 18, 2022

Received

K

61,800 shares

K

Feb 19, 2021

Received

K

$189.02K

K at $69.32/share

Jul 31, 2020

Purchase

K

$1.10M

K at $65.33/share

Feb 10, 2020

Purchase

Compensation History

See how much did Steve Cahillane make over time.

In 2023, Steve Cahillane earned a total compensation of approximately $4.17 million at Kellanova. This figure included a base salary of around $1.34 million but was heavily reliant on a performance-based bonus of roughly $2.83 million, reflecting his alignment with the company's success. His pay strategy is to connect executive compensation with performance measures, ensuring that his interests align with those of shareholders. This marks a shift in focus toward a results-driven approach at Kellanova, which emphasizes organic sales growth and cash flow metrics. His compensation history shows a mix of base salary and performance incentives, typical for someone in his position, especially in large corporations following similar models to encourage executives to drive financial results.

Year

2023

Total Compensation

$4.52M

Salary

$1.34M

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy emphasizes performance-based pay to align executive compensation with company performance and shareholder interests.

Bonus

$2.83M

Board Justification

Annual Incentive Plan (AIP) payout based on performance against established targets for 2023, paid in March 2024.

Other

$350.28K

Board Justification

Includes contributions to retirement plans, life insurance, financial planning assistance, and other benefits.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 N/A)

Board Justification

No stock grants vested in 2023 as the focus is on performance-based compensation.

Performance Metrics

Key performance metrics include Organic Net Sales Growth and Free Cash Flow, which are used to determine AIP payouts.