WestRock Executive Compensation (FY23)
WRK · Executive and director compensation, fiscal 2022 to 2023
The WestRock 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 12, 2026Latest filing (8-K): January 30, 2024
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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227 figures on this page: 221 cited to the filing that reported them, 6 calculated from figures it prints. See the citations
What changed from fiscal 2022 to fiscal 2023
The figures that moved, and by how much. Analysis of these figures is part of the Velarion platform.
Chief executive total compensation — David Sewell: $11,576,270 → $12,615,612 (9.0% higher)
Say-on-pay support: 89.6% → 92.9% (3.3 points higher)
Frequently asked questions
Answers drawn from the data on this page.
Who is WestRock's chief executive and what were they paid?
David Sewell was paid $12,615,612 in total compensation as President and CEO for fiscal 2023. Sewell's total was 9.0% higher than the $11,576,270 reported for fiscal 2022.
What was WestRock's say-on-pay result?
The say-on-pay proposal drew 92.9% of votes cast for or against in favor at the meeting held January 26, 2024 for fiscal 2023.
Which companies are in WestRock's peer group?
Companies named in the disclosed peer group include 3M Company, Amcor plc, Avery Dennison Corp., Ball Corporation and Crown Holdings, Inc., among others.
What is WestRock's chief executive pay ratio?
For fiscal 2023, the company reported a chief executive pay ratio of 149:1, against median employee compensation of $84,559.
Executive compensation
Every element reported for each named executive officer, by fiscal year.
Fiscal 2022
| Officer | Salary | Bonus | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | Pension and deferred earnings | All other compensation | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
David Sewell President and CEO | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Alexander Pease Executive Vice President and CFO | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Denise Singleton Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Ward Dickson Former Executive Vice President and CFO Departed during or after this year | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | — | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Patrick Kivits President, Corrugated Packaging | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Thomas Stigers President, Mill Operations | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Fiscal 2023
| Officer | Salary | Bonus | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | Pension and deferred earnings | All other compensation | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
David Sewell President and CEO | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Alexander Pease Executive Vice President and CFO | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Patrick Kivits President, Corrugated Packaging | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Denise Singleton Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
Thomas Stigers President, Mill Operations | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ | ◇ |
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 2023
| Officer | Award | Grant date | Threshold units | Target units | Units granted | Maximum units | Exercise price | Grant date fair value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander W. Pease | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| Alexander W. Pease | PSU | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ |
| David B. Sewell | PSU | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ |
| David B. Sewell | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| Denise R. Singleton | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| Denise R. Singleton | PSU | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ |
| Patrick M. Kivits | PSU | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ |
| Patrick M. Kivits | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
| Thomas M. Stigers | PSU | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ | — | ◇ | — | ◇ |
| Thomas M. Stigers | RSU | ◇ | — | — | ◇ | — | — | ◇ |
Fiscal 2022 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 2023 year end
| Officer | Award | Unvested units | Market value of unvested units | Exercise price | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Stigers | RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| Patrick Kivits | RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| Denise Singleton | RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| Alexander Pease | RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| David Sewell | RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| PSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | |
| RSU | ◇ | ◇ | — | — |
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 2023
| Director | Fees earned in cash | Stock awards | Option awards | Non-equity incentive | Pension and deferred earnings | All other compensation | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alan D. Wilson Board chair | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Terrell K. Crews | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Timothy J. Bernlohr | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
James E. Nevels | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Colleen F. Arnold | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Dmitri L. Stockton | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
J. Powell Brown | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Russell M. Currey | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Gracia C. Martore | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
Suzan F. Harrison | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
E. Jean Savage | ◇ | ◇ | — | — | — | — | ◇ |
David B. Sewell served on the board in fiscal 2023 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 | ◇ |
| Total board retainer | ◇ |
| Board chair premium | ◇ |
| Audit committee chair | ◇ |
| Audit committee member | ◇ |
| Compensation committee chair | ◇ |
| Nominating and governance chair | ◇ |
| Nominating and governance member | ◇ |
Equity is delivered as restricted stock units.
Disclosed peer group
The companies this board named as its compensation comparison group. The list is disclosure; the comparison is analysis.
Fiscal 2023
- 3M Company MMM
- Amcor plc AMCR
- Avery Dennison Corp. AVY
- Ball Corporation BALL
- Crown Holdings, Inc. CCK
- Dupont de Nemours, Inc. DD
- Freeport McMoRan Inc. FCX
- Honeywell International, Inc. HON
- International Paper Company IP
- Kimberly-Clark Corporation KMB
- LyondellBasell Industries NV LYB
- Nucor Corporation NUE
- Packaging Corporation of America PKG
- PPG Industries, Inc. PPG
- The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company GT
- The Sherwin-Williams Company SHW
- United States Steel Corporation X
- Weyerhaeuser Company WY
Say-on-pay history
Shareholder support for the compensation program, by year.
| Year | Meeting | Support | Votes for | Votes against | Abstentions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | January 26, 2024 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2022 | January 27, 2023 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2021 | January 28, 2022 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2020 | January 29, 2021 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2019 | January 31, 2020 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
| 2018 | February 1, 2019 | = | ◇ | ◇ | ◇ |
Chief executive pay ratio
As calculated and reported by the company.
Ratio
◇
Median employee compensation
◇
Chief executive total compensation
◇
What this page does not include
Everything above is a fact WestRock disclosed, and it is free. Everything below is our analysis of those facts, and it is not.
Peer benchmarking
Where WestRock 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 — $1,500Written 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 — $1,500Board and governance analysis
Committee composition, independence, director pay positioning, and the governance provisions read together rather than listed.
Board Governance Report — $1,200Realizable 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 IntelligenceAdviser switching and vote outcomes
Two datasets covering compensation-adviser changes and what followed a contested vote. Both are part of the Velarion platform.
Inquire about accessMultiple companies at once
Cross-company views, cohort screens, and data export across the industries we cover. This page is one company; the platform is all of them.
Velarion IntelligenceCitations
Every figure on this page is cited to the document that reported it. Select any figure to see its citation.
227 figures on this page: 221 cited to the filing that reported them, 6 calculated from figures it prints.
221 cited to the filing
6 calculated from the filing
Documents cited
- 0001157523-24-000133Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
- 0001193125-23-293896CEO PAY RATIO · Director Compensation · Fiscal 2023 Summary Compensation Table · Grants of Plan-Based Awards in Fiscal 2023 · and 1 more section
- 0001157523-23-000133Item 5.07. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
- 0001193125-22-305282Summary Compensation Table
- 0001157523-22-000125
- 0001157523-21-000126
- 0001157523-20-000133
- 0001171843-19-000727
Cite this data
This page is free to cite. Attribution we ask for:
Velarion, “WestRock executive compensation, FY2022–FY2023.” https://intel.velarion.ai/comp/WRK (accessed 2026).
Short form: data: Velarion
The WestRock 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.
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 WestRock discloses
The companies named in WRK's own disclosed peer group.
3M CompanyAmcor plcAvery Dennison Corp.Ball CorporationCrown Holdings, Inc.Dupont de Nemours, Inc.Freeport McMoRan Inc.Honeywell International, Inc.International Paper CompanyKimberly-Clark CorporationLyondellBasell Industries NVNucor CorporationPackaging Corporation of AmericaPPG Industries, Inc.The Goodyear Tire & Rubber CompanyThe Sherwin-Williams CompanyWeyerhaeuser Company
Terms on this page
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}
}