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Brown Forman Executive Compensation (FY26)

BF.B · Executive and director compensation, fiscal 2022 to 2026

The Brown Forman brief, $1,500

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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Data as of September 7, 2026Latest filing (8-K): July 23, 2026
8 filings cited on this page
A report that fails to generate is refunded in full
Published by Velarion Company Intelligence
Brown Forman brief$1,500Get the executive brief
406 figures on this page: 402 cited to the filing that reported them, 4 calculated from figures it prints. See the citations
Chief executive, fiscal 2026
◇
Lawson Whiting
Median of the other named officers
$4,012,935
5 officers, excluding the chief executive
Latest say-on-pay support
=
July 23, 2026
Chief executive pay ratio
◇
To the median employee

Frequently asked questions

Answers drawn from the data on this page.
Who is Brown Forman's chief executive and what were they paid?
Lawson Whiting was paid $25,304,882 in total compensation as President and Chief Executive Officer for fiscal 2026.
What was Brown Forman's say-on-pay result?
For fiscal 2026, shareholders backed the say-on-pay proposal with 85.5% of votes cast for or against in favor at the meeting held July 23, 2026.
Which companies are in Brown Forman's peer group?
The disclosed peer group names Church & Dwight Co., Inc., Conagra Brands, Inc., Constellation Brands, Inc., Diageo plc and Edgewell Personal Care Company, among others.
What is Brown Forman's chief executive pay ratio?
The company reported a chief executive pay ratio of 439:1 for fiscal 2026, against median employee compensation of $57,651.

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
Lawson Whiting
President and Chief Executive Officer
◇—◇◇◇◇◇◇
Thomas Hinrichs
Executive Vice President, President, Emerging International
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
Leanne Cunningham
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
Matthew Hamel
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
Fiscal 2023
OfficerSalaryBonusStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension and deferred earningsAll other compensationTotal
Lawson Whiting
President and Chief Executive Officer
◇—◇◇◇◇◇◇
Leanne Cunningham
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
◇—◇◇◇◇◇◇
Thomas Hinrichs
Former Executive Vice President, President, Emerging International
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
Matthew Hamel
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
◇—◇◇◇◇◇◇
Fiscal 2024
OfficerSalaryBonusStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension and deferred earningsAll other compensationTotal
Lawson Whiting
President and Chief Executive Officer
◇—◇◇◇◇◇◇
Leanne Cunningham
Former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
◇—◇◇◇◇◇◇
Marshall Farrer
Executive Vice President, Chief Strategic Growth Officer
◇—◇◇◇◇◇◇
Matthew Hamel
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
◇—◇◇◇◇◇◇
Thomas Hinrichs
Former Executive Vice President, President, Emerging International
◇—◇◇◇—◇◇
Fiscal 2025
OfficerSalaryBonusStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension and deferred earningsAll other compensationTotal
Lawson Whiting
President and Chief Executive Officer
◇—◇◇—◇◇— not reconciled
Leanne Cunningham
Former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
◇—◇◇—◇◇— not reconciled
Marshall Farrer
Executive Vice President, Chief Strategic Growth Officer
◇—◇◇◇◇◇◇
Matias Bentel
Former Executive Vice President, Chief Brands Officer
Departed during or after this year
◇—◇◇◇◇◇◇
Timothy Nall
Executive Vice President, Chief Global Supply Chain and Technology Officer
◇—◇◇◇◇◇◇
Jeremy Shepherd
Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer
◇—◇◇◇◇◇◇
Fiscal 2026
OfficerSalaryBonusStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension and deferred earningsAll other compensationTotal
Lawson Whiting
President and Chief Executive Officer
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
Leanne Cunningham
Former Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Departed during or after this year
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
Michael Carr
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
Michael Masick
Executive Vice President, President, Americas
◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇
Yiannis Pafilis
Executive Vice President, President, Europe, Africa, Asia Pacific
◇◇◇◇◇—◇◇
James Peters
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
◇◇◇◇◇—◇◇
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 2026
OfficerAwardGrant dateThreshold unitsTarget unitsUnits grantedMaximum unitsExercise priceGrant date fair value
James W. PetersPSU◇◇◇◇◇—◇
James W. PetersOPTION◇——◇—◇◇
Lawson E. WhitingOPTION◇——◇—◇◇
Lawson E. WhitingPSU◇◇◇◇◇—◇
Lawson E. WhitingPSU◇◇◇◇◇—◇
Leanne D. CunninghamPSU◇◇◇◇◇—◇
Leanne D. CunninghamPSU◇◇◇◇◇—◇
Leanne D. CunninghamOPTION◇——◇—◇◇
Michael A. MasickOPTION◇——◇—◇◇
Michael A. MasickPSU◇◇◇◇◇—◇
Michael A. MasickPSU◇◇◇◇◇—◇
Michael E. Carr Jr.PSU◇◇◇◇◇—◇
Michael E. Carr Jr.PSU◇◇◇◇◇—◇
Michael E. Carr Jr.OPTION◇——◇—◇◇
Yiannis PafilisPSU◇◇◇◇◇—◇
Yiannis PafilisPSU◇◇◇◇◇—◇
Yiannis PafilisOPTION◇——◇—◇◇
Fiscal 2024, 2025 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 2026 year end
OfficerAwardUnvested unitsMarket value of unvested unitsExercise priceExpires
Michael MasickRSU◇◇——
SAR◇—◇4/30/2033
PSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
SAR◇—◇4/30/2034
SAR◇—◇4/30/2035
Michael CarrRSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
SAR◇—◇4/30/2033
SAR◇—◇4/30/2034
SAR◇—◇4/30/2035
Yiannis PafilisSAR◇—◇4/30/2033
PSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
SAR◇—◇4/30/2033
SAR◇—◇4/30/2034
SAR◇—◇4/30/2035
Lawson WhitingPSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
RSU◇◇——
SAR◇—◇4/30/2033
SAR◇—◇4/30/2034
SAR◇—◇4/30/2035
James PetersSAR◇—◇4/30/2035
PSU◇◇——
Leanne CunninghamSAR◇—◇4/30/2035
SAR◇—◇4/30/2034
RSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
PSU◇◇——
SAR◇—◇4/30/2033
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 2026
DirectorFees earned in cashStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension and deferred earningsAll other compensationTotal
Marshall B. Farrer
Board chair · Lead independent director
◇◇———◇◇
Michael A. Todman
◇◇———◇◇
Michael J. Roney
◇◇———◇◇
Elizabeth A. Smith
◇◇————◇
Jan E. Singer
◇◇———◇◇
Tracy L. Skeans
◇◇———◇◇
Campbell P. Brown
◇◇———◇◇
Mark A. Clouse
◇◇————◇
Elizabeth M. Brown
—◇———◇◇
W. Austin Musselman Jr
◇————◇◇
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◇
Total board retainer◇
Board chair premium◇
Lead independent director premium◇
Audit committee chair◇
Audit committee member◇
Compensation committee chair◇
Compensation committee member◇
Nominating and governance chair◇
Nominating and governance member◇
Board meeting fee◇
Committee meeting fee◇
Equity is delivered as deferred stock units.
Stock ownership guideline: 5x annual retainer ($1,175,000)

Disclosed peer group

The companies this board named as its compensation comparison group. The list is disclosure; the comparison is analysis.
Fiscal 2026
  • Church & Dwight Co., Inc. CHD
  • Conagra Brands, Inc. CAG
  • Constellation Brands, Inc. STZ
  • Diageo plc DEO
  • Edgewell Personal Care Company EPC
  • Energizer Holdings, Inc. ENR
  • Harley-Davidson, Inc. HOG
  • Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. KDP
  • McCormick & Co Inc. MKC
  • Molson Coors Beverage Company TAP
  • Monster Beverage Corporation MNST
  • Pernod Ricard SA symbol not shown
  • Post Holdings, Inc. POST
  • The Boston Beer Company, Inc. SAM
  • The Clorox Company CLX
  • The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. HAIN
  • The Hershey Company HSY
  • The J.M. Smucker Company SJM
  • YETI Holdings, Inc. YETI

Say-on-pay history

Shareholder support for the compensation program, by year.
YearMeetingSupportVotes forVotes againstAbstentions
2026July 23, 2026=◇◇◇
2023July 27, 2023=◇◇◇
2020July 30, 2020=◇◇◇
2017July 27, 2017=◇◇◇

Chief executive pay ratio

As calculated and reported by the company.
Ratio
◇
Median employee compensation
◇
Chief executive total compensation
◇
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What this page does not include

Everything above is a fact Brown Forman disclosed, and it is free. Everything below is our analysis of those facts, and it is not.
Peer benchmarking
Where Brown Forman 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.
Executive Compensation Report — $1,500
Written compensation analysis
A read of the pay program as designed and as paid: incentive structure, goal rigor, the alignment between the committee's stated philosophy and what the numbers show.
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 — $1,200
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.
Velarion Intelligence
Adviser switching and vote outcomes
Two datasets covering compensation-adviser changes and what followed a contested vote. Both are part of the Velarion platform.
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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.
406 figures on this page: 402 cited to the filing that reported them, 4 calculated from figures it prints.
402 cited to the filing
4 calculated from the filing

Documents cited

  1. 0000014693-26-000035
    Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
  2. 0001193125-26-275853
    Compensation Tables · Director Compensation · FISCAL 2026 DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE · FISCAL 2026 SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE · and 5 more sections
  3. 0001193125-25-143663
    Compensation Tables
  4. 0001193125-24-165706
    FISCAL 2024 SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
  5. 0000014693-23-000098
    Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
  6. 0001193125-23-173793
    Summary Compensation
  7. 0000014693-20-000093
    Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation
  8. 0000014693-17-000172
    Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation
Cite this data
This page is free to cite. Attribution we ask for:
Velarion, “Brown Forman executive compensation, FY2022–FY2026.” https://intel.velarion.ai/comp/BF.B (accessed 2026).
Short form: data: Velarion

The Brown Forman brief, $1,500

Positioning against its disclosed peers, the governance read, incentive design, and the CD&A alignment analysis; the full peer table; a committee-ready PDF.
From $1,200 for the board report; $2,400 for both.
Get the executive briefGet the board briefNo account needed.
8 filings cited on this page
Method: intel.velarion.ai/methodology
A report that fails to generate is refunded in full
Published by Velarion Company Intelligence
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Peers Brown Forman discloses

The companies named in BF.B's own disclosed peer group.

Church & Dwight Co., Inc.Conagra Brands, Inc.Constellation Brands, Inc.Edgewell Personal Care CompanyEnergizer Holdings, Inc.Harley-Davidson, Inc.Keurig Dr Pepper Inc.McCormick & Co Inc.Molson Coors Beverage CompanyMonster Beverage CorporationPost Holdings, Inc.The Boston Beer Company, Inc.The Clorox CompanyThe Hain Celestial Group, Inc.The Hershey CompanyThe J.M. Smucker CompanyYETI Holdings, 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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