Damien McDonald served as the CEO of LivaNova PLC from January 2017 until April 2023. He has a solid academic background with bachelor's degrees in pharmacy and economics from the University of Queensland, a master's in international economics from the...

Damien McDonald served as the CEO of LivaNova PLC from January 2017 until April 2023. He has a solid academic background with bachelor's degrees in pharmacy and economics from the University of Queensland, a master's in international economics from the University of Wales, and an MBA from IMD in Switzerland. Before stepping into the CEO role, McDonald held several significant positions in the life sciences sector, including at Danaher Corporation, where he was responsible for over 3,200 employees across several regions. Under his leadership, LivaNova focused on executing strategic initiatives aimed at improving revenue and profitability. Interestingly, during his tenure, he had the biggest bonus in 2018, which peaked at over $3.5 million, due to exceeding performance goals. However, he left LivaNova after a period of apparent challenges. His departure was sudden, and the company had to quickly search for his replacement after he resigned. Initially, he received a notice payment of £1,062,138, reflecting his salary and benefits during his garden leave. Despite the ups and downs, McDonald is recognized for his experience in guiding complex organizations in the healthcare space.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other LivaNova CEOs

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Damien McDonald

Ex-CEO of LivaNova

Education

Bachelor's degrees in pharmacy and economics from the University of Queensland, a master's degree in international economics from the University of Wales, and an MBA from the Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Lausanne.

Field of Expertise

Business & Management

Sector of Economy

Healthcare

Born

January 1, 1972 - 53 years ago

CEO of LivaNova for

6 years 3 months (Jan 2017 - Apr 2023)

Previous Experience

Group Executive and Corporate Vice President at Danaher Corporation, various roles at Johnson & Johnson.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Damien McDonald

Holdings

See how much did Damien McDonald make over time.

Damien McDonald had a strong stake in LivaNova, showcasing his commitment to the company. In 2017, at the start of his CEO tenure, he had an impressive number of vested shares, and his compensation peaked in 2018, thanks to stellar...

Damien McDonald had a strong stake in LivaNova, showcasing his commitment to the company. In 2017, at the start of his CEO tenure, he had an impressive number of vested shares, and his compensation peaked in 2018, thanks to stellar performance metrics that exceeded targets. Over the years, McDonald’s wealth tied to LivaNova shares fluctuated significantly - in 2018, his stock awards and bonuses totaled around $4 million, reflecting the company’s success. However, by 2023, as he prepared for his exit, many of his unvested stock options and grants were forfeited, highlighting the risks tied to high executive roles. This pattern illustrates both the potential rewards and pitfalls of being a CEO, where one’s fortunes can rise and fall with the company's fate.

Total Stock Sold

$3.92M

LIVN

$3.92M

45,886 LIVN shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Damien McDonald didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra LIVN45,886 shares worth $2.33M.
This is -40.45% and $1.58M less than what they got when they sold the stock.

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Damien McDonald.

LIVN

$94.46K

LIVN at $42.55/share

Mar 30, 2023

Sale

LIVN

$121.12K

LIVN at $54.56/share

Dec 15, 2022

Sale

LIVN

$226.90K

LIVN at $81.50/share

Mar 29, 2022

Sale

LIVN

$226.90K

LIVN at $81.50/share

Dec 13, 2021

Sale

LIVN

$68.00K

LIVN at $68.00/share

Feb 3, 2020

Sale

LIVN

$75.68K

LIVN at $75.68/share

Jan 2, 2020

Sale

LIVN

$83.71K

LIVN at $83.71/share

Dec 2, 2019

Sale

LIVN

$74.40K

LIVN at $74.40/share

Nov 1, 2019

Sale

LIVN

$73.82K

LIVN at $73.82/share

Oct 1, 2019

Sale

LIVN

$77.00K

LIVN at $77.00/share

Sep 3, 2019

Sale

Compensation History

See how much did Damien McDonald make over time.

In 2023, Damien McDonald’s total compensation was $870,000, comprised of a $600,000 salary, a $120,000 bonus based on performance, and $250,000 in vested stock from previous years. This compensation design was to reflect LivaNova’s performance-driven culture, aiming to keep leaders accountable and motivated to hit key financial goals. The total payout was significantly lower than the impressive $1.47 million he earned in 2022, which included a major bonus based on achieving a 91% target. His most lucrative year was 2018 when his total compensation hit stunning figures, reinforced by a sizable performance bonus. McDonald’s pay package underlined LivaNova’s approach of rewarding executives based on actual company performance, with clear incentives tied to financial targets. However, his departure raises questions about the ongoing alignment of performance and compensation for top executives.

Year

2023

Total Compensation

$1.02M

Salary

$600.00K

Board Justification

LivaNova's compensation philosophy aims to attract, retain, and motivate top executive talent while aligning their interests with those of shareholders through a balanced mix of fixed and variable compensation tied to performance metrics.

Bonus

$120.00K

Board Justification

The bonus is based on the achievement of specific performance metrics set at the beginning of the year, with a maximum payout of 200% of base salary.

Other

$50.00K

Board Justification

Other compensation includes health benefits, retirement contributions, and other perquisites.

Restricted Stock

$250.00K(5K RSU)

Board Justification

5,000 shares of restricted stock units (RSUs) vested in 2023, granted in previous years as part of the long-term incentive plan.

Performance Metrics

Performance metrics include revenue growth, profitability targets, and strategic initiatives aligned with the company's long-term goals.

Other LivaNova CEOs

Here are other CEOs of LivaNova

André-Michel Ballester

Ex-CEO of LivaNova

September 2015 - December 2016

William A. Kozy

Ex-CEO of LivaNova

April 2023 - March 2024