James M. Foote has been at the helm of CSX Corporation since December 2017, stepping in right after the sudden passing of E. Hunter Harrison. He came to CSX with extensive experience, previously serving as CEO of Bright Rail Energy...

James M. Foote has been at the helm of CSX Corporation since December 2017, stepping in right after the sudden passing of E. Hunter Harrison. He came to CSX with extensive experience, previously serving as CEO of Bright Rail Energy and holding significant roles at Canadian National Railway. During his time as CEO, Foote focused on improving the efficiency of the railroad, leading CSX to an industry-best operating ratio and notable safety improvements. In 2022, his total compensation was around $5.6 million, which included a significant bonus based on performance metrics that aimed to drive company success. Foote's leadership was marked by a commitment to aligning executive pay with the hard work of employees and shareholder interests. After planning his retirement, he helped transition to his successor, Joseph Hinrichs, and offered his expertise as an advisor until early 2023.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other CSX CEOs

C

James M. Foote

Ex-CEO of CSX

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Michigan

Field of Expertise

Business & Management

Sector of Economy

Industrials

Born

December 15, 1954 - 70 years ago

CEO of CSX for

4 years 9 months (Dec 2017 - Sep 2022)

Previous Experience

President and Chief Executive Officer of Bright Rail Energy, Inc.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of James M. Foote

D

Ed Bastian

CEO of Delta Air Lines

2023 Compensation

Stock

$19.03M

Salary

$950.00K

Bonus

$9.60M

Other

$371.18K

Total Holdings

$31.31M

N

Alan H. Shaw

CEO of Norfolk Southern

2022 Compensation

Stock

$2.16M

Salary

$900.00K

Bonus

$5.54M

Other

$200.85K

Total Holdings

$8.65M

G

Robert C. Lyons

CEO of GATX

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$858.33K

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$919.02K

Total Holdings

$9.74M

U

Lance M. Fritz

CEO of Union Pacific

2023 Compensation

Stock

$4.94M

Salary

$1.33M

Bonus

$960.00K

Other

$165.96K

Total Holdings

$192.70M

N

Charles W. Moorman

CEO of Norfolk Southern

2022 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$900.00K

Bonus

$901.28K

Other

$200.85K

Total Holdings

$88.66M

U

J. Scott Kirby

CEO of United Airlines Holdings

2023 Compensation

Stock

$10.71M

Salary

$1.10M

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$155.74K

Total Holdings

$53.84M

Holdings

See how much did James M. Foote make over time.

James M. Foote's holdings reflect his long-term commitment to CSX Corporation. Throughout his tenure, he accumulated a substantial amount of stock, with performance units and restricted stock units contributing significantly to his wealth. By the end of 2022, he held...

James M. Foote's holdings reflect his long-term commitment to CSX Corporation. Throughout his tenure, he accumulated a substantial amount of stock, with performance units and restricted stock units contributing significantly to his wealth. By the end of 2022, he held approximately 1.6 million shares, showing a notable peak in his portfolio following the increased stock value during CSX's operational efficiencies. His wealth previously peaked in 2021 when he had about $15 million tied to CSX stock, highlighting a successful growth period for the company, before dipping in the last year of his leadership due to market fluctuations and the economic climate. This history underlines both his investment in CSX's future and the close tie between executive performance and shareholder value.

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Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of James M. Foote.

CSX

$3.21M

CSX at $35.17/share

Feb 16, 2022

Received

CSX

$13.19M

CSX at $34.10/share

Jan 21, 2022

Received

CSX

$3.05M

CSX at $88.18/share

Feb 10, 2021

Received

CSX

$17.29M

CSX at $87.64/share

Jan 22, 2021

Received

CSX

$3.16M

CSX at $81.29/share

Oct 25, 2020

Received

CSX

$20.27K

CSX at $59.28/share

Oct 25, 2020

Purchase

CSX

$21.22K

CSX at $52.66/share

Dec 31, 2019

Received

CSX

$299.55K

CSX at $59.91/share

May 2, 2018

Purchase

Compensation History

See how much did James M. Foote make over time.

In 2022, James M. Foote earned a total compensation of about $5.6 million, which was in line with CSX's performance-based pay philosophy. His package included a $1.55 million salary and a significant annual performance bonus of around $4 million, linking his earnings to the company's operational success. This structure emphasizes CSX's strategy of rewarding executives for achieving measurable business goals, like operational efficiency and safety. Over the years, Foote's compensation has fluctuated based on company performance metrics, alongside stock grants that rewarded his contributions to CSX's growth. Notably, in 2021 his earnings reached $8 million, driven by record-setting performance; a stark contrast to the more cautious approach taken in 2019.

Year

2022

Total Compensation

$23.15M

Salary

$1.55M

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy of CSX Corporation aims to align executive compensation with company performance, focusing on shareholder value creation and retention strategies.

Bonus

$4.10M

Board Justification

Annual bonus for 2022 based on actual performance in accordance with the Company’s Management Incentive Compensation Plan (MICP).

Other

$0.00

Board Justification

No other compensation was paid out in 2022.

Restricted Stock

$17.51M(575.36K RSU)

Board Justification

Shares acquired through stock awards include performance units paid out pursuant to the 2020-2022 LTIP and restricted stock units vested in February 2022 pursuant to the 2019-2021 LTIP.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for the CEO's compensation include operating income, operating ratio, and initiative-based revenue growth, among others.

Other CSX CEOs

Here are other CEOs of CSX

Oscar Munoz

Ex-CEO of CSX

February 2015 - December 2017

Joseph R. Hinrichs

CEO of CSX

September 2022 - Present