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American Water Works Company Executive Compensation (FY25)

AWK · Executive and director compensation, fiscal 2022 to 2025
Chief executive, fiscal 2025
◇
John Griffith
Median of the other named officers
$2,436,303
6 officers, excluding the chief executive
Latest say-on-pay support
=
May 13, 2026
Chief executive pay ratio
◇
To the median employee
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Data as of October 19, 2026Latest filing (8-K): May 15, 2026
14 filings cited on this page
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447 figures on this page: 436 cited to the filing that reported them, 11 calculated from figures it prints. See the citations

More on American Water Works Company

Five data products on this company. Each one is requested through the developer setup page.
What changed from fiscal 2024 to fiscal 2025
The figures that moved, and by how much. Analysis of these figures is part of the Velarion platform.
Chief executive total compensation — John Griffith: $4,882,645 → $7,055,667 (44.5% higher)
Say-on-pay support: 88.1% → 91.6% (3.5 points higher)

Frequently asked questions

Answers drawn from the data on this page.
Who is American Water Works Company's chief executive and what were they paid?
John Griffith, President and Chief Executive Officer, received $7,055,667 in total compensation for fiscal 2025. Griffith's total was 44.5% higher than the $4,882,645 reported for fiscal 2024.
What was American Water Works Company's say-on-pay result?
The say-on-pay proposal drew 91.6% of votes cast for or against in favor at the meeting held May 13, 2026 for fiscal 2025.
Which companies are in American Water Works Company's peer group?
The disclosed peer group names Alliant Energy Corporation, Ameren Corporation, Atmos Energy Corporation, CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and CMS Energy Corporation, among others.
What is American Water Works Company's chief executive pay ratio?
The company reported a chief executive pay ratio of 73:1 for fiscal 2025, against median employee compensation of $104,956.

Executive compensation

Every element reported for each named executive officer, by fiscal year.
Fiscal 2022
OfficerSalaryBonusStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension and deferred earningsAll other compensationTotal
M. Susan Hardwick
Chief Executive Officer
◇◇◇—◇—◇◇
John Griffith
President
◇◇◇—◇—◇◇
James Gallegos
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
◇◇◇—◇—◇◇
Cheryl Norton
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
◇—◇—◇—◇◇
Melanie Kennedy
Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer
◇—◇—◇—◇◇
Fiscal 2023
OfficerSalaryBonusStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension and deferred earningsAll other compensationTotal
M. Susan Hardwick
Chief Executive Officer
◇—◇—◇—◇◇
Cheryl Norton
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
◇—◇—◇◇◇◇
John Griffith
President
◇—◇—◇—◇◇
James Gallegos
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
◇—◇—◇—◇◇
Melanie Kennedy
Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer
◇—◇—◇—◇◇
Fiscal 2024
OfficerSalaryBonusStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension and deferred earningsAll other compensationTotal
M. Susan Hardwick
Chief Executive Officer
◇—◇—◇—◇◇
Cheryl Norton
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
◇—◇—◇◇◇◇
John Griffith
President
◇—◇—◇—◇◇
David Bowler
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
◇—◇—◇—◇◇
Melanie Kennedy
Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer
◇—◇—◇—◇◇
Stacy Mitchell
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
◇—◇—◇—◇◇
Fiscal 2025
OfficerSalaryBonusStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension and deferred earningsAll other compensationTotal
John Griffith
President and Chief Executive Officer
◇—◇—◇—◇◇
Cheryl Norton
Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
◇—◇—◇◇◇◇
M. Susan Hardwick
Former Chief Executive Officer
Departed during or after this year
◇—◇———◇◇
David Bowler
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
◇—◇—◇—◇◇
Stacy Mitchell
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
◇—◇—◇—◇◇
Maureen Duffy
Executive Vice President, Communications and External Affairs
◇—◇—◇◇◇◇
Melanie Kennedy
Former Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resources Officer
Departed during or after this year
◇—◇—◇—◇◇
A dash means the company reported no figure in that column. $0 is shown only where the filing prints a zero. A negative change in pension value is shown but, as the company reports it, not included in the total.

Equity awards granted

Individual awards as disclosed: type, date, unit counts at each level, and grant date value.
Fiscal 2025
OfficerAwardGrant dateThreshold unitsTarget unitsUnits grantedMaximum unitsExercise priceGrant date fair value
Cheryl NortonPSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
Cheryl NortonPSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
Cheryl NortonPSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
Cheryl NortonRSU◇——◇——◇
David M. BowlerPSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
David M. BowlerPSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
David M. BowlerPSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
David M. BowlerRSU◇——◇——◇
John C. GriffithPSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
John C. GriffithPSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
John C. GriffithPSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
John C. GriffithPSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
John C. GriffithPSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
John C. GriffithPSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
John C. GriffithRSU◇——◇——◇
John C. GriffithRSU◇——◇——◇
M. Susan HardwickRSU◇——◇——◇
M. Susan HardwickPSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
M. Susan HardwickPSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
M. Susan HardwickPSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
Maureen DuffyPSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
Maureen DuffyPSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
Maureen DuffyPSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
Maureen DuffyRSU◇——◇——◇
Melanie M. KennedyPSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
Melanie M. KennedyPSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
Melanie M. KennedyRSU◇——◇——◇
Melanie M. KennedyPSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
Stacy A. MitchellRSU◇——◇——◇
Stacy A. MitchellPSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
Stacy A. MitchellPSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
Stacy A. MitchellPSU◇◇◇—◇—◇
Fiscal 2023, 2024 are included in the PDF.
A dash means the company reported no figure in that column. $0 is shown only where the filing prints a zero. Threshold, target and maximum apply only to performance awards and are never shown for time-based or option awards.

Outstanding awards

Awards still held at fiscal year end.
As disclosed at fiscal 2025 year end
OfficerAwardUnvested unitsMarket value of unvested unitsExercise priceExpires
Cheryl NortonPSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
David BowlerRSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
Stacy MitchellPSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
Maureen DuffyRSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
John GriffithPSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
M. Susan HardwickPSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
Melanie KennedyPSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
A dash means the company reported no figure in that column. $0 is shown only where the filing prints a zero.

Director compensation

What each non-employee director was paid.
Fiscal 2025
DirectorFees earned in cashStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension and deferred earningsAll other compensationTotal
Karl F. Kurz
Board chair
◇◇————◇
Julia L. Johnson
◇◇———◇◇
Jeffrey N. Edwards
◇◇————◇
Stuart M. McGuigan
◇◇————◇
Michael L. Marberry
◇◇————◇
Patricia L. Kampling
◇◇————◇
Laurie P. Havanec
◇◇————◇
Raffiq Nathoo
◇◇————◇
Lisa A. Grow
◇◇————◇
Martha Clark Goss
◇————◇◇
Kimberly J. Harris
◇—————◇
John C. Griffith served on the board in fiscal 2025 and received no compensation for board service. Executive directors are typically paid through their executive roles, shown above.
Earlier years are included in the PDF.
A dash means the company reported no figure in that column. $0 is shown only where the filing prints a zero.

Director fee schedule

The standing retainers and premiums the board pays, as published.
Board cash retainer◇
Board equity retainer◇
Board chair premium◇
Audit committee chair◇
Compensation committee chair◇
Nominating and governance chair◇
Equity is delivered as Stock Units.

Disclosed peer group

The companies this board named as its compensation comparison group. The list is disclosure; the comparison is analysis.
Fiscal 2025
  • Alliant Energy Corporation LNT
  • Ameren Corporation AEE
  • Atmos Energy Corporation ATO
  • CenterPoint Energy, Inc. CNP
  • CMS Energy Corporation CMS
  • Entergy Corporation ETR
  • Essential Utilities, Inc. WTRG
  • Evergy, Inc. EVRG
  • Eversource Energy ES
  • NiSource Inc. NI
  • OGE Energy Corp. OGE
  • Pinnacle West Capital Corporation PNW
  • PPL Corporation PPL
  • Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated PEG
  • WEC Energy Group, Inc. WEC

Say-on-pay history

Shareholder support for the compensation program, by year.
YearMeetingSupportVotes forVotes againstAbstentions
2025May 13, 2026=◇◇◇
2024May 14, 2025=◇◇◇
2023May 15, 2024=◇◇◇
2022May 10, 2023=◇◇◇
2021May 11, 2022=◇◇◇
2020May 12, 2021=◇◇◇
2019May 13, 2020=◇◇◇
2018May 10, 2019=◇◇◇
2017May 11, 2018=◇◇◇
2016May 12, 2017=◇◇◇
2015May 13, 2016=◇◇◇

Chief executive pay ratio

As calculated and reported by the company.
Ratio
◇
Median employee compensation
◇
Chief executive total compensation
◇

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Sample answer — “What is the CEO’s total compensation?”
- John Griffith (President and Chief Executive Officer), FY2025 total compensation $7,055,667 (base salary $1,026,418) [exec_comp, SEC accession 0001193125-26-120668, filed 2026-03-24]

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What this page does not include

Everything above is a fact American Water Works Company disclosed, and it is free. Everything below is our analysis of those facts, and it is not.
Peer benchmarking
Where American Water Works Company sits against its disclosed peers — percentile position by role and by pay element, and the ranking behind it. The disclosed peer group is free; comparisons across it are part of the Velarion platform.
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Executive Compensation Report — $1,500
Board and governance analysis
Committee composition, independence, director pay positioning, and the governance provisions read together rather than listed.
Board Governance Report — $499
Realizable pay
What the awards above are actually worth today against what they were valued at on grant, and what the gap says about the pay-for-performance link.
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Citations

Every figure on this page is cited to the document that reported it. Select any figure to see its citation.
447 figures on this page: 436 cited to the filing that reported them, 11 calculated from figures it prints.
436 cited to the filing
11 calculated from the filing

Documents cited

  1. 0001410636-26-000094
    Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
  2. 0001193125-26-120668
    2025 Grants of Plan-Based Awards · 2025 Summary Compensation Table · CEO Pay Ratio · Director Compensation · and 1 more section
  3. 0001410636-25-000117
    Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
  4. 0001193125-25-064607
    2024 Summary Compensation Table
  5. 0001410636-24-000116
    Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
  6. 0001193125-24-077207
    2023 Summary Compensation Table
  7. 0001410636-23-000081
  8. 0001410636-22-000095
  9. 0001410636-21-000151
  10. 0001410636-20-000106
  11. 0001410636-19-000087
  12. 0001410636-18-000116
  13. 0001564590-17-010754
  14. 0001564590-16-019366
Cite this data
This page is free to cite. Attribution we ask for:
Velarion, “American Water Works Company executive compensation, FY2022–FY2025.” https://intel.velarion.ai/comp/AWK (accessed 2026).
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The paid brief for American Water Works Company

Positioning against its disclosed peers, the governance read, incentive design, and the CD&A alignment analysis; the full peer table; a committee-ready PDF.
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14 filings cited on this page
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Peers American Water Works Company discloses

The companies named in AWK's own disclosed peer group.

Alliant Energy CorporationAmeren CorporationAtmos Energy CorporationCenterPoint Energy, Inc.CMS Energy CorporationEntergy CorporationEssential Utilities, Inc.Evergy, Inc.Eversource EnergyNiSource Inc.OGE Energy Corp.Pinnacle West Capital CorporationPPL CorporationPublic Service Enterprise Group IncorporatedWEC Energy Group, Inc.

Terms on this page

Say-on-Pay VoteCEO Pay RatioMedian Employee CompensationAll companies

Free to read and cite. Redistribution or bulk use of the dataset requires a data license. Talk to us about the data license.

Cite this data
APA
Velarion Company Intelligence. (2026). Velarion database: executive and board compensation data (Version 2026Q3) [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22283854
BibTeX
@misc{velarionData2026,
  author = {{Velarion Company Intelligence}},
  title = {Velarion database: executive and board compensation data},
  year = {2026},
  version = {2026Q3},
  doi = {10.5281/zenodo.22283854},
  publisher = {Zenodo},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22283854}
}
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