Javan D. Ottoson has been at the helm of SM Energy Company since February 1, 2015, taking over the CEO role after serving as President since October 2012. He joined the company back in December 2006 as Executive Vice President...

Javan D. Ottoson has been at the helm of SM Energy Company since February 1, 2015, taking over the CEO role after serving as President since October 2012. He joined the company back in December 2006 as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Javan has over 37 years of experience in the energy sector, primarily in high-level positions across various well-known companies, including ARCO and Energy Partners, Ltd. Under his leadership, SM Energy focuses on strategic asset acquisition and development. His compensation in 2022 was a notable $6.73 million, heavily based on performance, indicating a strong link between his leadership and the company’s success. Javan is known for his commitment to ESG metrics, ensuring that the company's goals align with environmental and social standards. Additionally, he has made significant trades in SM stock, reflecting his confidence in the company's future. Javan actively manages risks and guides strategic discussions at the executive level, contributing to effective governance and operational excellence at SM Energy.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other SM Energy CEOs

S

Javan D. Ottoson

CEO of SM Energy

Field of Expertise

Business & Management

Sector of Economy

Energy

Born

January 1, 1958 - 67 years ago

CEO of SM Energy for

10 years 4 months (Feb 2015 - Present)

Previous Experience

Joined SM Energy in December 2006 as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Javan D. Ottoson

M

Joseph Wm. Foran

Founder and CEO of Matador Resources

2023 Compensation

Stock

$11.09M

Salary

$1.35M

Bonus

$3.11M

Other

$25.70K

Total Holdings

$26.93M

P

James H. Walter

CEO of Permian Resources

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$0.00

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$4.30K

Total Holdings

$163.30M

P

William M. Hickey III

CEO of Permian Resources

2023 Compensation

Stock

$15.00M

Salary

$0.00

Bonus

$0.00

Other

$0.00

Total Holdings

$166.35M

O

Brendan McCracken

CEO of Ovintiv

2023 Compensation

Stock

$3.86M

Salary

$1.10M

Bonus

$2.54M

Other

$407.55K

Total Holdings

$7.62M

A

D. Bradley Childers

CEO of Archrock

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$875.00K

Bonus

$1.86M

Other

$75.00K

Total Holdings

$53.96M

M

Brian J. Willey

CEO of Matador Resources

2023 Compensation

Stock

$0.00

Salary

$600.00K

Bonus

$1.37M

Other

$23.10K

Total Holdings

$4.58M

Holdings

See how much did Javan D. Ottoson make over time.

Javan D. Ottoson has displayed a strong connection to SM Energy through significant stock holdings over the years, with notable trades escalating from $324.64K in September 2019 to around $16.93 million by September 2023. His trading activity underscores his confidence...

Javan D. Ottoson has displayed a strong connection to SM Energy through significant stock holdings over the years, with notable trades escalating from $324.64K in September 2019 to around $16.93 million by September 2023. His trading activity underscores his confidence in SM Energy’s prospects, especially during the volatile market phases of 2020 and 2021, where he made substantial purchases ranging up to $14.23 million in November 2021. His holdings peaked in value around mid-2022, indicating a robust performance during that time. This fluctuation showcases how his financial interests closely align with the company’s overall health and operational success. The recent stock activity around the $15 million mark suggests a capacity for investment ahead of potential valuation shifts, keeping eyes on market trends.

Mar 18, 2025

S

shares

SM @ $30.30

Charitable Transactions

SM

11,872 shares

SM

Recent Charitable Transactions

SM

2,500 shares

SM

Dec 31, 2018

Charity

SM

4,000 shares

SM

Nov 8, 2016

Charity

SM

2,237 shares

SM

Aug 11, 2014

Charity

SM

600 shares

SM

Nov 12, 2013

Charity

SM

1,500 shares

SM

Sep 5, 2013

Charity

SM

1,035 shares

SM

Dec 30, 2011

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Javan D. Ottoson.

SM

$73.15K

SM at $14.63/share

May 7, 2019

Purchase

SM

2,500 shares

SM

Dec 31, 2018

Charity

SM

$33.10K

SM at $16.55/share

Jun 8, 2017

Purchase

SM

$126.10K

SM at $25.22/share

Feb 27, 2017

Purchase

SM

4,000 shares

SM

Nov 8, 2016

Charity

SM

$22.50K

SM at $9.00/share

Feb 29, 2016

Purchase

SM

$38.98K

SM at $7.80/share

Feb 25, 2016

Purchase

SM

2,237 shares

SM

Aug 11, 2014

Charity

SM

$71.94K

SM at $71.94/share

Feb 21, 2014

Purchase

Compensation History

See how much did Javan D. Ottoson make over time.

In 2022, Javan D. Ottoson's total compensation reached $6.73 million, primarily from his salary of $773,077, a cash bonus of $1.1 million, along with other benefits. His bonus highlights a performance-based structure designed to motivate his effort and strategic input, evaluated through various key metrics tied to the company’s performance and ESG goals. Interestingly, he did not receive any stock grants or options in 2022, which emphasizes a cash-focused incentive strategy during a pivotal year. His overall pay demonstrates how SM Energy ensures competitive compensation to attract and maintain leadership talent, linking rewards directly to the company's performance, which resonates with shareholder interests. Overall, his compensation structure reflects both current performance and long-term success ambitions for SM Energy.

Year

2022

Total Compensation

$2.04M

Salary

$773.08K

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy is designed to link pay to a balanced mix of financial, operational, and ESG-based metrics over time, ensuring competitive compensation to attract and retain talent while aligning with stockholder interests.

Bonus

$1.10M

Board Justification

Annual cash incentive opportunity dependent upon individual and corporate performance in key financial, operational, and ESG-based metrics for the year 2022.

Other

$167.84K

Board Justification

Includes contributions to the 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan and other benefits.

Restricted Stock

$0.00(0 N/A)

Board Justification

No stock was vested in 2022 as the focus was on cash bonuses and performance-based awards.

Performance Metrics

The performance metrics for 2022 included adjusted free cash flow generation, absolute TSR, relative TSR, and ESG performance.

Other SM Energy CEOs

Here are other CEOs of SM Energy

Anthony J. Best

Ex-CEO of SM Energy

December 2006 - January 2015