Joseph A. Chlapaty served as the CEO of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. from 2008 until his retirement in 2017. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Cincinnati and has years of management experience under his...

Joseph A. Chlapaty served as the CEO of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. from 2008 until his retirement in 2017. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Cincinnati and has years of management experience under his belt. Under his leadership, the company saw a remarkable increase in value, with insider trading reflecting growth from $245.68 million to $873.66 million over several years, peaking at $1.01 billion in early 2024. The way he structured compensation tied to performance shows he cares about aligning executive rewards with company success. Chlapaty retired with a total compensation package of $9.23 million in 2017, thanks in part to a significant severance package. He stepped down as CEO but continued with the company in an honorary role as Chairman Emeritus. A noteworthy moment was when he announced his retirement back in 2017, wrapping up nearly a decade of leadership that shaped the company’s direction.

Quick Links

1. Rivals

2. Holdings

3. Insider Trading

4. Compensation History

5. Other Advanced Drainage Systems CEOs

A

Joseph A. Chlapaty

Ex-CEO of Advanced Drainage Systems

Education

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

Field of Expertise

Business & Management

Sector of Economy

Industrials

Born

January 1, 1952 - 73 years ago

CEO of Advanced Drainage Systems for

9 years 7 months (Jan 2008 - Aug 2017)

Previous Experience

Chairman and CEO of Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc.

Rivals

Competitors/colleagues of Joseph A. Chlapaty

G

John C. Turner, Jr.

CEO of GMS

2023 Compensation

Stock

$1.65M

Salary

$865.00K

Bonus

$977.61K

Other

$23.29K

Total Holdings

$11.10M

F

Nicholas I. Fink

CEO of Fortune Brands Innovations

2023 Compensation

Stock

$7.31M

Salary

$1.24M

Bonus

$1.97M

Other

$275.23K

Total Holdings

$19.20M

Holdings

See how much did Joseph A. Chlapaty make over time.

At one point, Joseph A. Chlapaty had a substantial amount tied up in his company's stock, which saw impressive fluctuations. For instance, in 2019, the value of his stock holdings was around $245.68 million, showing steady growth through early 2024...

At one point, Joseph A. Chlapaty had a substantial amount tied up in his company's stock, which saw impressive fluctuations. For instance, in 2019, the value of his stock holdings was around $245.68 million, showing steady growth through early 2024 when it peaked at $1.01 billion. This growth indicates not only confidence in his company’s trajectory but also a well-timed investment strategy. Over the years, from middle 2020 to early 2024, although there were dips, the overall trend showcases resilience, suggesting that his leadership played a significant role in this strong performance.

Mar 18, 2025

W

shares

WMS @ $109.89

Total Stock Sold

$116.09M

WMS

$116.09M

3,500,000 WMS shares

What if they kept their stock?

If Joseph A. Chlapaty didn't sell their stock, today they would have:
Extra WMS3,500,000 shares worth $169.82M.
This is 46.28% and $53.73M more than what they got when they sold the stock.

Charitable Transactions

WMS

645,000 shares

WMS

Recent Charitable Transactions

WMS

95,000 shares

WMS

Aug 13, 2018

Charity

WMS

250,000 shares

WMS

Feb 13, 2018

Charity

WMS

45,000 shares

WMS

Jun 15, 2017

Charity

WMS

255,000 shares

WMS

Jun 13, 2016

Charity

Insider Trading

See recent insider trades of Joseph A. Chlapaty.

WMS

$37.40M

WMS at $37.40/share

Nov 12, 2019

Sale

WMS

$45.12M

WMS at $30.08/share

Aug 28, 2018

Sale

WMS

95,000 shares

WMS

Aug 13, 2018

Charity

WMS

$25.94M

WMS at $28.82/share

Jun 11, 2018

Sale

WMS

$2.85M

WMS at $28.53/share

Jun 4, 2018

Sale

WMS

250,000 shares

WMS

Feb 13, 2018

Charity

WMS

45,000 shares

WMS

Jun 15, 2017

Charity

WMS

$202.81K

WMS at $20.28/share

Jun 15, 2017

Purchase

WMS

$581.79K

WMS at $19.39/share

Jun 7, 2017

Purchase

WMS

45,455 shares

WMS

Feb 8, 2017

Received

Compensation History

See how much did Joseph A. Chlapaty make over time.

In 2017, Joseph A. Chlapaty received a total compensation of $9.23 million. His salary was $295,833, accompanied by a hefty bonus of $1,081,420 for the fiscal year, which was significant considering it was paid out upon his retirement. He also had $1.32 million in vested stock when he left, reflecting his long-term commitment to the company. This combination of salary, bonuses, and stock options illustrates a compensation plan heavily linked to company performance, not just a fixed salary. Even in years with lesser performance, his structure ensured he was fairly compensated, aligning with shareholder interests and the company's growth agenda.

Year

2017

Total Compensation

$10.56M

Salary

$295.83K

Board Justification

The compensation philosophy emphasizes performance-based pay and aligns executive compensation with shareholder interests.

Bonus

$1.08M

Board Justification

Accrued bonus for fiscal year 2018 paid upon retirement.

Other

$7.86M

Board Justification

Includes severance payments and related benefits accrued upon retirement, including the acceleration of unvested equity awards.

Restricted Stock

$1.32M(62.4K Restricted Stock)

Board Justification

Restricted stock that vested upon retirement on September 1, 2017.

Performance Metrics

Compensation is linked to financial performance metrics such as net sales and Adjusted EBITDA.

Other Advanced Drainage Systems CEOs

Here are other CEOs of Advanced Drainage Systems

D. Scott Barbour

CEO of Advanced Drainage Systems

August 2017 - Present