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How nice of the executives to enrich themselves while the company is not exactly growing or generating profits that meet expectations.
This is a problem with our corporate America. The poor structure of governing the Board of Directors is the culprit - enabling the executives to rob the company blind with ridiculous bonsues that they most assurdely do not merit.
Kraft said the plan aimed to focus executives on the achievement of long-term financial and strategic goals that have a positive impact on stockholder returns.
My ass.
This is a problem with our corporate America. The poor structure of governing the Board of Directors is the culprit - enabling the executives to rob the company blind with ridiculous bonsues that they most assurdely do not merit.
Kraft said the plan aimed to focus executives on the achievement of long-term financial and strategic goals that have a positive impact on stockholder returns.
My ass.
Kraft bonuses: $10M amid layoffs
Food maker has to lay off 6,000 workers and close 20 plants, but execs still got paid big bonuses.
March 6, 2004: 5:22 PM EST
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Bonuses totaling more than $10 million were paid out to five Kraft Foods Inc. executives at the end of 2003, even as the giant food maker made plans to lay off thousands of workers.
In its annual proxy statement released on Friday, Kraft said the biggest payout, a $3.7-million bonus, was made to chief executive Roger Deromedi.
Former co-CEO Betsy Holden got $3.5 million, sweetening her demotion to global marketing chief in December.
Other payments were $1.3 million for North American President David Johnson, $900,000 for international boss Hugh Roberts and $1.2 million for global supply chain Executive Vice President Franz-Josef Vogelsang.
The maker of Velveeta cheese, Ritz crackers and Maxwell House coffee has struggled to meet Wall Street expectations lately, hurt by a lack of attractive new products and by cheaper competition in some sectors.
In January, Chicago-based Kraft said it would cut about 6,000 jobs and close 20 plants as it tried to restore growth.
An experiment in joint leadership, with Deromedi in charge of Kraft's international operations and Holden running the North American business, ended on Dec. 16.
The bonuses paid by Northbrook, Illinois-based Kraft were made under a three-year incentive plan covering 2001 to 2003.
Kraft said the plan aimed to focus executives on the achievement of long-term financial and strategic goals that have a positive impact on stockholder returns.
Kraft shares closed at $34.12 on the New York Stock Exchange Friday, up 1.8 percent but far below its 2002 high near $40.00. Kraft shares fell 17 percent in 2003, even as the Standard & Poor's index of large-cap food stocks rose more than 5 percent.
Food maker has to lay off 6,000 workers and close 20 plants, but execs still got paid big bonuses.
March 6, 2004: 5:22 PM EST
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Bonuses totaling more than $10 million were paid out to five Kraft Foods Inc. executives at the end of 2003, even as the giant food maker made plans to lay off thousands of workers.
In its annual proxy statement released on Friday, Kraft said the biggest payout, a $3.7-million bonus, was made to chief executive Roger Deromedi.
Former co-CEO Betsy Holden got $3.5 million, sweetening her demotion to global marketing chief in December.
Other payments were $1.3 million for North American President David Johnson, $900,000 for international boss Hugh Roberts and $1.2 million for global supply chain Executive Vice President Franz-Josef Vogelsang.
The maker of Velveeta cheese, Ritz crackers and Maxwell House coffee has struggled to meet Wall Street expectations lately, hurt by a lack of attractive new products and by cheaper competition in some sectors.
In January, Chicago-based Kraft said it would cut about 6,000 jobs and close 20 plants as it tried to restore growth.
An experiment in joint leadership, with Deromedi in charge of Kraft's international operations and Holden running the North American business, ended on Dec. 16.
The bonuses paid by Northbrook, Illinois-based Kraft were made under a three-year incentive plan covering 2001 to 2003.
Kraft said the plan aimed to focus executives on the achievement of long-term financial and strategic goals that have a positive impact on stockholder returns.
Kraft shares closed at $34.12 on the New York Stock Exchange Friday, up 1.8 percent but far below its 2002 high near $40.00. Kraft shares fell 17 percent in 2003, even as the Standard & Poor's index of large-cap food stocks rose more than 5 percent.
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