This week saw the release of the 2023 Highest-Paid Executives list for Jeffco Public Companies, a definitive guide to executive compensation in recent times. A total of 81 executives graced the list this year, peeling back the curtain to give us a glimpse into the financial earnings of top execs in notable public companies based in Jefferson County.
Median compensation for an executive on the list was $1.4 million, although some executives saw much larger pay packages.
Topping the list, Gary Owens, the president and CEO of Mesa Laboratories Inc., received a total compensation package of $18.1 million for 2022, increasing from $2.6 million in 2021. Stock awards made up the bulk of Owens’s 2022 compensation ($15.2 million).
Trailing not far behind, Trimble Inc. President and CEO Robert Painter took the second spot with a 2022 compensation of $16.1 million. Coming in third was ZimVie Inc. President and CEO Vafa Jamali, earning $10.4 million in 2022.
Other high earners included former Ball Corp. CEO and Chairman John Hayes and Molson Coors Beverage Co. CEO Gavin Hattersley, who were awarded $9.4 million and $9.1 million, respectively. Meanwhile, Daniel Fisher, the current Ball Corp. CEO and chairman, earned $6.8 million in the past year.
This list stands as an emblem of the financial recognition that Jefferson County executives obtain in return for their vital roles and performance.
Total compensation figures reflect what was awarded to an executive in fiscal year 2022 and include salary, bonuses, non-equity-incentive plan compensation, stock and options awards valued in their entirety as of the grant date, and other compensation including benefits. Our sources for this information include proxy statements filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.