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J. Kent Masters

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at ALBEMARLE
Board
Since April 2020
Age
64 years
Tenure
Joined the board of directors in 2015, served as Lead Independent Director starting in 2018, and was promoted to Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer in April 2020.

Also at ALBEMARLE

CRL
Cynthia R. Lima
Senior Vice President, Chief External Affairs and Communications Officer
DJLJ
Donald J. LaBauve, Jr.
Vice President, Corporate Controller, and Chief Accounting Officer
EWN
Eric W. Norris
Chief Commercial Officer

About

J. Kent Masters is a seasoned executive with a diverse background that spans several key industries including engineering, construction, and industrial gases. He held significant leadership roles such as Chief Executive Officer at Foster Wheeler AG between 2011 and 2014 where he steered the company through a major acquisition process, and he was a member of the executive board at Linde AG with responsibility for operations across multiple global regions.

His transition to Albemarle marked a pivotal step in his career, as he joined the board in 2015 during the company’s acquisition of Rockwood Holdings, Inc. and later served as the Lead Independent Director until his promotion in April 2020 to assume the role of Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer. His leadership at Albemarle has been instrumental in driving strategic initiatives and large capital projects that align with the company’s global business strategy.

Beyond his work at Albemarle, he has contributed to the broader business community through roles such as an Operating Partner at Advent International and by serving on the board of Vibrantz Technologies as well as participating in the Charlotte Executive Leadership Council. These roles underscore his commitment to fostering innovation and guiding strategic growth across various sectors.

$ALB Performance Under J. Kent Masters

Past Roles

OrganizationRoleDate RangeDetails
Albemarle Corporation Lead Independent Director2018 - April 2020Served as Lead Independent Director before promotion to Chairman and CEO
Albemarle Corporation Board Member2015 - April 2020Joined the board as part of the acquisition of Rockwood Holdings, Inc.
Foster Wheeler AG Chief Executive Officer2011 - 2014Served as CEO; the company was later acquired to form Amec Foster Wheeler plc
Linde AG Executive Board Member2006 - 2011Member of the executive board at a global leader in industrial gases
Advent International Operating PartnerN/AN/A
Rockwood Holdings, Inc. Board MemberN/AServed on the board prior to its acquisition by Albemarle Corporation

External Roles

OrganizationRoleDate RangeDetails
Vibrantz Technologies Board of DirectorsPresentGlobal technology leader in color solutions, functional coatings, and specialty minerals
Charlotte Executive Leadership Council MemberPresentN/A

Fixed Compensation

Data from  FY 2023
Component NameAmountPayment ScheduleAdditional Details
Base Salary$1,334,038 Earned in 2023 (prorated from an annualized salary effective April 1, 2023) Annualized Base Salary of $1,400,000 effective April 1, 2023; actual earned salary is $1,334,038
All Other Compensation$483,585 Paid in 2023Includes Company Contributions to Savings Plan ($16,200), DCPB ($16,500), EDCP ($436,335), and Perquisites ($14,550: Personal Financial Consulting Expenses $14,000 and Annual Credit Card Fees $550)

Performance Compensation

Data from  FY 2023

rTSR PSUs

MetricValue/Details
Performance MetricRelative Total Shareholder Return (rTSR) relative to the 2023 Peer Group
Performance LevelsThreshold: 30th percentile (30% of awards), Target: 50th percentile (100% of awards), Superior: 75th percentile (200% of awards)
Grant DateFebruary 24, 2023
Units GrantedThreshold: 3,006 units, Target: 10,020 units, Superior: 20,040 units
Grant Date Fair Value$3,321,730
Grant Date Stock Price$331.51 per share
Vesting ScheduleVest in full at performance determination in Q1 2026
Additional ConditionsPayout capped at 100% if absolute TSR is negative

Adjusted ROIC PSUs

MetricValue/Details
Performance MetricAdjusted Return on Invested Capital (ROIC) (calculation using Earnings Before Taxes, Depreciation/Amortization, CAPEX Maintenance, and Investment base)
Performance LevelsThreshold: 30% of grant, Target: 100% of grant, Superior: 200% of grant
Grant DateFebruary 24, 2023
Units GrantedThreshold: 3,006 units, Target: 10,020 units, Superior: 20,040 units
Grant Date Fair Value$2,455,401
Grant Date Stock Price$245.05 per share
Vesting Schedule3-year performance period (2023-2025), vest in full after performance certification
Additional ConditionsPerformance interpolation applied between thresholds; maximum payout capped at 200% of target

Annual Incentive Plan (AIP)

MetricValue/Details
Plan BasisEnterprise Plan based on multiple metrics
Key Performance MetricsAdjusted EBITDA (50% weighting), Adjusted Cash Flow from Operations (25% weighting), Stewardship (10% weighting), Individual Performance (15% weighting)
Adjusted EBITDA TargetsThreshold: $4,119M, Target: $4,846M, Superior: $5,573M; Actual: $4,593M (≈95% of target)
Adjusted Cash Flow TargetsThreshold: $2,069M, Target: $2,434M, Superior: $2,799M; Actual: $2,639M (≈108% of target)
Stewardship MetricsOccupational Safety (Target ≤0.26, Superior ≤0.15; Actual = 0.14), Process Safety (Target ≤16, Superior ≤8; Actual = 9.00), Environment (Target ≤12, Superior ≤4; Actual = 7.00)
Overall Payout LevelsThreshold Performance: 50%, Target: 100%, Superior: 200%; Actual Business Performance Payout: 96.3% (excludes individual performance adjustment)
Payout Settlement50% in cash and 50% in immediately vested shares (resulted in 7,908 shares) settled in March 2024
Grant DateFebruary 24, 2023
Grant Date Stock Price for Equity Portion$249.52 per share

Time-Based Awards (RSUs & Stock Options)

Award TypeDetails
RSUsTime-based awards with no performance metrics. Grant Date: February 24, 2023; 10,020 RSUs granted; Grant Date Fair Value: $2,455,401; Stock Price: $245.05; Vest fully on February 24, 2026 or earlier if a successor CEO is appointed.
Stock OptionsTime-based awards with no performance metrics. Grant Date: February 24, 2023; 25,340 stock options granted; Grant Date Fair Value: $2,500,044; Base Price: $249.52 per share; Vest fully on February 24, 2026 (accelerated non-forfeitable vesting possible upon early conditions); Expiration: February 24, 2033.

The above tables summarize the detailed performance compensation components for 2023, including specific dollar amounts, unit quantities, performance targets, vesting schedules, and evaluation periods as provided in the documents.