Windstream CEO Tony Thomas
Windstream Holdings Inc. President and CEO Tony Thomas’ salary nearly doubled to $1 million in 2015 compared to the previous year, when he was CFO, according to the publicly traded telecommunications company’s annual proxy statement.
Thomas was appointed chief executive in December 2014 after the departure of CEO Jeff Gardner. Thomas earned total compensation of more than $4.4 million in 2015, including about $2.1 million in stock awards, the company reported. Gardner also earned a salary of $1 million in 2014.
In 2014, Thomas’ total compensation was about $3.4 million, which included a salary of about $538,000 and stock awards of more than $2.6 million.
CFO and Treasurer Bob Gunderman’s total compensation increased in 2015 by more than $360,000 to about $1.5 million. That includes a salary of $450,000 and stock awards of about $691,000.
John Fletcher, executive vice president, chief human resources officer and general counsel, received total compensation of about $2.1 million, up from about $2 million in 2014. His 2015 compensation includes a salary of $515,000 and stock awards of about $1.2 million.
J. David Works Jr., president of the Enterprise Business Unit, earned total compensation of nearly $1.7 million in 2015, including a salary of $465,000 and stock awards of nearly $830,000. His total compensation in 2014 was about $1.4 million.
Vice President-Controller John C. Eichler’s total compensation in 2015 was about $766,000, up from around $621,000 in 2014. He earned a salary of $290,000 in 2015 in addition to stock awards of about $345,000.
David M. Redmond, former president of consumer and small and medium business, earned just under $1 million in total compensation in 2015, including a salary of about $190,000 and stock awards of more than $520,000. He was not a named executive officer in 2014 and is no longer in the position, which Sarah Day assumed on Jan. 1.
The company plans to hold its 2016 annual meeting via webcast at 11 a.m. May 12. During the meeting, shareholders will consider proposals to:
- Elect the company’s nine directors
- Vote on a non-biding advisory resolution on executive compensation
- Ratify Windstream’s rights plan designed to protect tax benefits of Windstream’s net operating loss carryforwards
- Approve amendments to the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of Windstream
- Ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as Windstream’s independent registered public accountant for 2016
In other company news, directors Judy Jones and William Montgomery will not stand for re-election at the annual meeting. On Feb. 9, the board expanded its size, appointing Jeannie Diefenderfer and Larry Laque.
Last year, the company implemented a new business unit organizational structure, creating four business segments. The company also completed the spin-off of Communications Sales & Leasing Inc. and the sale of the data center business.
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