Richard T. O'Brien was the CEO of Newmont Mining Corporation from 2007 to 2013. Before becoming CEO, he had valuable experience as the President and CFO of the company and even worked at AGL Resources. In his leadership role, O'Brien...

Richard T. O'Brien was the CEO of Newmont Mining Corporation from 2007 to 2013. Before becoming CEO, he had valuable experience as the President and CFO of the company and even worked at AGL Resources. In his leadership role, O'Brien focused heavily on aligning executive pay with company performance, emphasizing the importance of creating shareholder value. One interesting aspect of his compensation is that he received a unique severance package when he left the company, amounting to roughly $7.8 million in 2013. This included a pro-rated bonus based on performance metrics. During his time at Newmont, he was awarded significant stock and options, but he navigated complex arrangements to ensure long-term alignment with shareholders' interests. For example, he received retention incentives that granted him 100,000 shares and options that would vest after five years, showing a commitment to the company's future. O'Brien's time at Newmont wasn't without challenges. Despite facing setbacks like an impairment related to the Hope Bay asset, he still received bonuses based on discretionary performance metrics. This highlights how executive compensation can be influenced by broader corporate goals, even in tough times. He left Newmont in 2013, succeeded by Gary J. Goldberg, but his legacy includes a focus on performance-driven compensation and strong corporate governance that still impacts the company today.