Kyle Gaither
FutureFuelAbout Kyle Gaither
Kyle Gaither is Chief Operations Officer (COO) at FutureFuel Corp., appointed effective February 9, 2023; age 57 as of the latest proxy, with 33+ years of manufacturing and engineering leadership at FutureFuel Chemical Company and predecessors Eastman Chemical and Eastman Kodak. He holds a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of Arkansas and is a licensed Professional Engineer, with deep plant operations experience built through roles as General Manager and Superintendent of Operations at the Batesville facility . Company performance during his tenure (company-level): Total Shareholder Return measured as value of a $100 investment improved to $341.62 in 2024 from $87.11 in 2023; Net Income was $15,503k in 2024 vs $37,382k in 2023 and $15,211k in 2022; Adjusted EBITDA was $17,594k in 2024 vs $34,983k in 2023 and $27,763k in 2022 .
Past Roles
| Organization | Role | Years | Strategic Impact |
|---|---|---|---|
| FutureFuel Chemical Company | General Manager | 2018–2023 | Oversaw manufacturing operations; built strong knowledge of FFCC capabilities . |
| FutureFuel Chemical Company | Superintendent of Operations | Pre-2018–2018 | Led plant operations; stepped into GM role Jan 2018 . |
| Eastman Chemical / Eastman Kodak (predecessors to FFCC) | Various leadership and engineering roles | ~33 years cumulative | Long-tenured manufacturing and support roles underpin operational execution . |
External Roles
No external public company directorships or committee roles disclosed in filings for Mr. Gaither .
Fixed Compensation
- Appointment terms: Base salary $250,000; eligible for executive benefits and incentive programs .
- Named Executive Officer compensation detail (FutureFuel Chemical Company executives):
| Compensation Element ($000) | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Salary | 248 | 258 |
| Bonus | 145 | 52 |
| Stock Awards | - | - |
| Option Awards | - | - |
| All Other Compensation | 24 | 29 |
| Total | 417 | 339 |
Notes: All compensation is presented in thousands of dollars as reported in the Summary Compensation Table. “All Other Compensation” includes benefits such as 401(k) match; Mr. Gaither’s 2024 amount includes $24 for 401(k) match and true-up as specified in footnote (h) .
Performance Compensation
- Annual bonus determination: 2024 bonuses for lead management (including Mr. Gaither) were recommended by the CEO and approved by the Compensation Committee, considering overall company financial performance and competitive executive pay practices; CEO voluntarily reduced his own bonus by 50% to increase amounts payable to other employees .
- Equity awards: No equity awards (RSUs/options) were granted to Non-PEO NEOs (including Mr. Gaither) in 2024; no options exercised and no stock awards vested in 2024 .
Performance bonus design detail (company-level, as disclosed; individual weightings/targets not specified):
| Metric | Weighting | Target | Actual | Payout | Vesting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Company financial performance; competitive pay practices | Not disclosed | Not disclosed | Considered broadly by Comp Committee | Discretionary; approved by Comp Committee | Cash bonus; no equity vesting for Mr. Gaither in 2024 |
Equity Ownership & Alignment
- Beneficial ownership (as of September 16, 2025): 1,161 shares; ownership <1% of common stock; table notes indicate no pledged shares for listed holders .
- Hedging and pledging: Company prohibits hedging and pledging of Company securities by employees, officers, and directors per proxy discussion .
| Ownership Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total beneficial shares | 1,161 |
| Ownership % | <1% |
| Vested vs. unvested equity | No RSUs/options disclosed for Mr. Gaither |
| Options (exercisable/unexercisable) | None disclosed for Mr. Gaither |
| Shares pledged as collateral | None; proxy table indicates no pledged shares for listed holders |
| Hedging/Pledging policy | Prohibitions in place for employees/officers/directors |
| Stock ownership guidelines | Not disclosed for executives in the proxy |
Employment Terms
| Term | Detail |
|---|---|
| Employment start date | Appointed COO on February 9, 2023 |
| Base salary | $250,000 at appointment |
| Incentives eligibility | Eligible for executive benefits and incentive programs |
| Severance provisions | No individual severance/change-of-control terms disclosed for Mr. Gaither; CEO severance terms separately disclosed |
| Non-compete / Non-solicit | Not disclosed in filings for Mr. Gaither |
Company Performance Context (during Gaither’s tenure)
| Metric | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Shareholder Return (value of $100 investment) | $118.17 | $87.11 | $341.62 |
| Net Income ($USD Thousands) | $15,211 | $37,382 | $15,503 |
| Adjusted EBITDA ($USD Thousands) | $27,763 | $34,983 | $17,594 |
Notes: Company-selected measure for pay-versus-performance disclosure was Adjusted EBITDA; reconciliations provided in the 10-K per proxy footnote .
Governance and Compensation Oversight
- Compensation Committee: 2025 membership is Dale E. Cole (Chair), Pamela R. Butcher, and Paul M. Manheim; all independent and qualifying under NYSE, Section 16, and §162(m) definitions .
- Say-on-Pay: 2023 vote approved; company holds say-on-pay every three years; next vote in 2026 .
- Bonus pool structure: 2024 FFCC employees received formulaic bonuses; lead management (including Mr. Gaither) bonuses approved with consideration of overall performance and competitive pay data .
Investment Implications
- Alignment: Mr. Gaither’s compensation is predominantly cash (salary plus annual bonus) with no disclosed equity awards, resulting in limited direct equity-alignment and minimal incremental insider selling pressure risk from vesting events .
- Retention: Base salary set at $250k with ongoing eligibility for incentive programs; absence of individual severance or change-of-control protections suggests standard retention levers rely on ongoing cash incentives and career progression rather than contractual economics .
- Governance risk mitigants: Prohibitions on hedging and pledging, and low personal share count reduce misalignment risks; no related-party transactions involving Mr. Gaither are disclosed .
- Execution: Long-tenured operations leadership and plant-level experience support continuity in manufacturing execution; company-level performance in 2024 showed strong TSR rebound despite lower Net Income and Adjusted EBITDA, implying share price sensitivity to factors beyond current-year earnings, which can influence cash bonus decisions for lead management cohorts .