Darren Huston was the CEO of Booking Holdings Inc. from 2014 until 2016. Before this, he led the Booking.com division for Priceline Group, where he gained valuable experience in the online travel industry. His background includes working at Microsoft, where...

Darren Huston was the CEO of Booking Holdings Inc. from 2014 until 2016. Before this, he led the Booking.com division for Priceline Group, where he gained valuable experience in the online travel industry. His background includes working at Microsoft, where he held significant roles, including Corporate VP for Consumer & Online and President of Microsoft Japan. Huston also has experience from Starbucks, focusing on acquisitions and product development. His CEO journey had its ups and downs; in 2014, he earned a staggering $222 million, largely from stock awards linked to performance goals. However, in 2015, Huston faced challenges when he didn't receive a bonus due to a personal conduct issue, which stemmed from a relationship with an employee. This eventually led to his resignation in 2016 after an investigation into these conduct issues. Despite the controversies, Huston's impact on the online travel landscape remains notable, and his career path reflects the risks and rewards in executive leadership.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Booking Holdings Inc. CEOs

B

Darren Huston

Ex-CEO of Booking Holdings Inc.

Field of Expertise

Business & Management

Sector of Economy

Consumer Cyclical

CEO of Booking Holdings Inc. for

2 years 3 months (Jan 2014 - Apr 2016)

Previous Experience

Corporate Vice President at Microsoft Corporation, President and CEO of Microsoft Japan

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Darren Huston

H

Christopher J. Nassetta

CEO of Hilton Worldwide

2023 Compensation

Stock

$32.00M

Salary

$1.30M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$729.69K

Total Holdings

$654.02M

M

Anthony G. Capuano

CEO of Marriott International

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.40M

Bonus

$5.60M

Other

$981.36K

Total Holdings

$46.65M

E

Peter Kern

CEO of Expedia Group, Inc.

2023 Compensation

Stock

$800.00K

Salary

$1.00M

Bonus

$500.00K

Other

$300.00K

Total Holdings

$75.53M

H

Mark Hoplamazian

CEO of Hyatt Hotels

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$1.36M

Bonus

$2.59M

Other

$43.89K

Total Holdings

$84.02M

T

Michael D. Brown

CEO of Travel + Leisure

2023 Compensation

Stock

$1.80M

Salary

$1.10M

Bonus

$1.58M

Other

$266.39K

Total Holdings

$24.69M

C

Arnold W. Donald

CEO of Carnival Corporation

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$0.00

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$106.57K

Total Holdings

$27.06M

Holdings

See how much did Darren Huston make over time.

Darren Huston’s stock holdings were significant during his time at Booking Holdings. At peak performance, he held nearly 91,000 shares, with his wealth largely tied to these investments. In 2014, Huston had a vibrant portfolio estimated at around $222 million,...

Darren Huston’s stock holdings were significant during his time at Booking Holdings. At peak performance, he held nearly 91,000 shares, with his wealth largely tied to these investments. In 2014, Huston had a vibrant portfolio estimated at around $222 million, driven by successful performance metrics. However, by 2016, his ownership had declined in both value and size due to the turbulent events surrounding his departure from the company. After his resignation, the value of his vested shares decreased substantially, reflecting how swiftly fortunes can shift in the executive landscape. This decline serves as a reminder of the intricacies in holding company stock and how executive conduct can directly affect personal financial outcomes. The market value of his holdings fluctuated, impacting his overall wealth and standing in the company.

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Darren Huston.

No insider trades found for this CEO.

Compensation History

See how much did Darren Huston make over time.

Darren Huston’s compensation as CEO was deeply tied to his performance. In 2014, he made headlines with over $221 million, primarily from stock awards linked to company success. However, by 2015, his total pay dropped to around $15 million due to conduct issues, leading to his exclusion from bonuses. His cash salary remained relatively stable over the years, but it was the stock awards that defined his earnings. In 2016, as he departed, his total compensation fell to approximately $347,000, including a significant amount from vested shares. His pay structure was heavily performance-driven, aligning his financial incentives with the company's health. This demonstrates how executive success is measured and rewarded in the corporate world, but also how quickly that can change due to personal behavior or company performance.

Year

2016

Total Compensation

$57.44M

Salary

$288.57K

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy emphasizes performance-based pay, aligning executive compensation with company performance and stockholder interests.

Bonus

$0.00

Board Justification

Mr. Huston was not eligible for and did not receive a 2016 bonus due to his departure in April 2016.

Other

$58.54K

Board Justification

Other compensation includes car service, professional fees, and perquisites available to all Booking.com employees.

Restricted Stock

$57.09M(42.89K RSU)

Board Justification

Mr. Huston had 42,885 shares of stock that vested in 2016, which included pro-rata vesting based on time served as of April 27, 2016.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for determining compensation were based on the company's overall performance, but Mr. Huston did not receive a bonus due to his departure.

Other Booking Holdings Inc. CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Booking Holdings Inc.

Jeffery H. Boyd

Ex-CEO of Booking Holdings Inc.

January 2002 - December 2013

Jeffery H. Boyd

Ex-CEO of Booking Holdings Inc.

April 2016 - December 2016