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Companies RPM International Inc/DE/

RPM International Inc/DE/ (RPM): executive pay, fiscal 2026

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CEO total pay$11,133,668CEO Frank Sullivan · source
Say-on-pay support91.72%Latest vote · source
CEO vs. named peers56th pct.Of 16 peer CEOs
CEO pay ratio185:1To the median employee · source

CEO pay, last three years

  • $11,742,464FY2024
  • $11,158,125FY2025
  • $11,133,668FY2026

CEO total pay was $11,133,668 in fiscal 2026, down from $11,158,125 in fiscal 2025.

FY2026: salary $1,135,000 · bonus $0 · stock awards $5,194,543 · option awards $2,665,673

Executives and directors

Frequently asked questions

Who was the highest-paid executive at RPM International Inc/DE/ in fiscal 2026?
As disclosed, Frank Sullivan (Chair and Chief Executive Officer) was the highest-paid executive at RPM International Inc/DE/ in fiscal 2026, with total compensation of $11,133,668.
How does RPM International Inc/DE/'s chief executive pay compare to its disclosed peer group?
As disclosed, Frank Sullivan's total compensation ranked at the 56th percentile of RPM International Inc/DE/'s disclosed peer group.
What is RPM International Inc/DE/'s CEO-to-median employee pay ratio?
As disclosed, RPM International Inc/DE/'s CEO-to-median employee pay ratio was 185:1.
How did shareholders vote on RPM International Inc/DE/'s executive compensation?
As disclosed, 91.72% of shareholders supported RPM International Inc/DE/'s executive compensation in the latest say-on-pay vote.
How much does RPM International Inc/DE/ spend in total on board compensation for fiscal 2026?
As disclosed, RPM International Inc/DE/ reported total board compensation of $3,254,726 for fiscal 2026.

Answers are drawn only from the figures disclosed in this brief and cited to their location in the source filing. Where a figure required for an answer is not disclosed, that is stated rather than estimated.

Full detail

Every table from the filing. Open any section.

Summary compensation table
Named executive officerSalaryBonusStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension / NQDCAll otherTotal
Frank Sullivan$1,135,000$0$5,194,543$2,665,673$1,703,000$141,823$293,629$11,133,668
Chair and Chief Executive Officer
David Dennsteadt615,00001,227,9522,013,215738,00080,26838,3934,712,828
President and Chief Operating Officer
Russell Gordon625,00001,197,650543,715750,00087,01772,3443,275,726
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Janeen Kastner475,00001,024,182443,789570,000128,11360,0192,701,103
Vice President – Corporate Benefits and Risk Management

A dash means the company reported no figure in that column; 0 means it reported zero. Figures are as printed in the filing, without adjustment.

Three-year trend — total compensation per named executive

Named executive officerFY2026 totalFY2025 totalFY2024 totalΔ FY2025→2026
Frank Sullivan$11,133,668$11,158,125$11,742,464↓ −24,457
David Dennsteadt4,712,828———
Russell Gordon3,275,7262,884,1532,991,247↑ +391,573
Janeen Kastner2,701,1032,609,9772,698,824↑ +91,126

Prior-year totals as disclosed in the corresponding proxy; deltas are computed values with the derivation shown in the register.

Incentive-plan design — the Compensation Discussion & Analysis

RPM's compensation philosophy is performance-based, designed to compensate executive officers near the market median for a relevant peer group with the potential for higher compensation when performance exceeds annual business goals. The program aims to retain key leaders, reward past performance, incentivize future performance, and align executives' long-term interests with those of stockholders through a balanced mix of fixed and at-risk pay.

CEO STI target (% of salary)—
CEO LTI target (% of salary)—
Independent consultantWillis Towers Watson
Clawback policytrue
Anti-hedgingtrue
Anti-pledgingtrue
Equity grants and outstanding awards

No plan-based awards are on file for this fiscal year.

Outstanding equity awards at fiscal year-end 2026

ExecutiveAwardShares unvestedExercise priceMarket value unvested
Janeen KastnerPSU3,375—$357,649
KinserPSU3,375—357,649
KinserRSU3,606—382,128
David DennsteadtPSU4,125—437,126
Russell GordonPSU4,125—437,126
David DennsteadtOption5,00081.01—
Russell GordonOption5,00081.01—
Janeen KastnerOption5,00081.01—
KinserOption5,00081.01—
Russell GordonRSU5,540—587,074
Janeen KastnerRSU5,540—587,074
KinserRSU5,540—587,074
Russell GordonRSU5,669—600,744
Janeen KastnerRSU6,061—642,284
David DennsteadtRSU9,600—1,017,312
Russell GordonOption10,40093.51—
Janeen KastnerOption10,40093.51—
KinserOption10,40093.51—
Russell GordonOption10,575114.26—
Janeen KastnerOption10,575114.26—
KinserOption10,575114.26—
David DennsteadtOption11,55093.51—
David DennsteadtOption11,775114.26—
Janeen KastnerOption15,100110.59—
KinserOption15,100110.59—
David DennsteadtRSU15,508—1,643,383
Russell GordonOption18,500110.59—
Frank SullivanPSU20,125—2,132,646
Frank SullivanRSU27,210—2,883,444
Janeen KastnerPSU43,400—4,599,098
KinserPSU43,400—4,599,098
Russell GordonPSU46,400—4,917,008
David DennsteadtPSU49,800—5,277,306
Frank SullivanOption50,00081.01—
Frank SullivanOption63,00093.51—
Frank SullivanOption63,825114.26—
David DennsteadtOption68,500110.59—
Frank SullivanOption90,700110.59—
Frank SullivanPSU261,400—27,700,558
Director compensation
DirectorCash feesStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentiveAll otherTotal
Robert A. LivingstonIndependent · Lead Independent Director · Compensation Committee · Executive Committee$165,000$164,066$0$0$0$329,066
Salvatore D. FazzolariIndependent · Audit (Chair) · Executive145,000164,066002,500311,566
Frederick R. NanceIndependent · Executive Committee140,000164,066002,500306,566
Craig S. MorfordIndependent · Governance and Nominating Committee (1)120,000164,066002,500286,566
Christopher L. MapesIndependent · Compensation Committee120,000164,066002,500286,566
Elizabeth F. WhitedIndependent · Compensation Committee120,000164,066000284,066
Bruce A. CarbonariIndependent · Executive Committee · Not standing for re-election120,000164,066000284,066
Julie A. BeckIndependent · Audit120,000164,066000284,066
Ellen M. PawlikowskiIndependent · Audit120,000164,066000284,066
Jenniffer D. DeckardIndependent · Audit120,000164,066000284,066
William B. Summers JrIndependent · Compensation Committee · Not standing for re-election120,000164,066000284,066
Thomas C. Gentile IIIIndependent · Compensation Committee30,000000030,000
Frank C. SullivanEmployee director · Board Chair · Executive Committee—————0
Jeffrey D. RoweIndependent · Partial-year service · Newly elected——————

Board fee structure and ownership guideline

Annual cash retainer$120,000
Annual equity retainer$165,000
Per board meeting fee—
Committee chair fees (audit / comp / nom-gov)25,000 / 20,000 / 20,000
Stock ownership guideline$5

Total cost of the board

ComponentFY2026
Cash retainers and fees$1,440,000
Equity awards (grant-date value)$1,804,726
All other compensation$10,000
Total cost of the board$3,254,726

Computed as the sum of the director compensation table rows above; inputs and formula shown in the register.

Peer group, and who names RPM International Inc/DE/ as a peer

Companies that benchmark against RPM

28 companies name RPM as a compensation peer

Each company listed discloses RPM in its own benchmarking peer group, as disclosed in each company's most recent proxy statement within the last two proxy seasons. Two companies are therefore absent by design: one that named RPM in an earlier year and no longer does, and one whose own most recent disclosure is older than the last two seasons.

Disclosed peer group — fiscal year 2026

The compensation peer group as the company disclosed it in its own proxy — the reference set behind the percentile above.

Peer reciprocity

Of the companies RPM International Inc/DE/ names as compensation peers, which name it back in their own disclosed peer groups. A peer set the market reciprocates reads differently from one selected in a single direction.

Reciprocity shown where the peer’s own current proxy has been read — each mark is cited in the register to that peer’s filing. A dash means the peer’s current proxy was read and names no reciprocal group including RPM International Inc/DE/.

Chief executive pay against the peer group

Most recent fiscal-year chief executive compensation at each disclosed peer, taken from that company’s own proxy statement.

RankCompanyFYChief executiveSalaryStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentiveTotal
1Eastman Chemical Company2025Mark Costa$1,406,958$12,682,200$3,278,151$987,000$19,498,966
2Albemarle Corporation2025J. Kent Masters Jr.1,400,0007,949,6402,500,0173,247,61815,513,654
3The Sherwin-Williams Company2025Heidi Petz1,373,0776,456,2074,253,8592,390,00014,914,317
4PPG Industries Inc.2025Timothy Knavish1,300,0007,333,5423,666,6901,924,00014,885,022
5Huntsman Corporation2025Peter R. Huntsman1,334,12510,513,39301,329,56114,666,623
6The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company2025James Hagedorn1,200,0003,050,9502,805,8953,796,81512,299,261
7Carlisle Companies Incorporated2025D. Christian Koch1,493,0006,376,9292,612,603011,359,438
8RPM International Inc/DE/2026Frank Sullivan1,135,0005,194,5432,665,6731,703,00011,133,668
9Celanese Corporation2025Scott Richardson—5,249,9582,249,9901,342,62510,137,072
10Olin Corporation2025Kenneth Lane1,100,0007,486,98401,069,6409,798,424
11Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.2025Chris Villavarayan1,100,0007,389,5520973,3919,551,721
12Cabot Corporation2025Sean Keohane1,100,0004,224,8472,274,9251,402,5019,307,883
13H.B. Fuller Company2025Celeste Mastin1,082,6922,971,9763,025,5381,339,8918,830,569
14The Chemours Company2025Denise Dignam1,058,8363,368,2252,909,6771,175,7818,595,076
15Masco Corporation2025Jonathon Nudi528,8504,034,8871,120,019273,6006,641,952
16Westlake Corporation2025Jean-Marc Gilson1,288,4623,000,205963,7991,089,6926,423,651
17Avient Corporation2025Ashish Khandpur1,128,2693,763,1590753,7775,818,257

Each peer’s compensation is from its most recently filed proxy; fiscal years differ by company. Each peer’s figures come from its own filings; the subject company is highlighted. Peers whose chief executive compensation is outside our coverage universe are stated as such, never left blank.

Incentive design against the same peers

CompanyAnnual incentive payoutLong-term vehicle mixPSU measures include TSRCompensation consultant
RPM International Inc/DE/not disclosednot disclosedNoWillis Towers Watson
Albemarle Corporationnot disclosedPSU 50 · RSU 25 · Options 25Yes — Relative Total Shareholder Return (rTSR)Farient Advisors LLC
Avient Corporation51.6%not disclosednot disclosednot disclosed
Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.71.7%not disclosedYes — Relative TSRPearl Meyer
Cabot Corporation90%not disclosedNoMeridian Compensation Partners
Carlisle Companies Incorporatednot disclosedPSU 33 · RSU 33 · Options 33NoWillis Towers Watson
Celanese Corporation93.4%PSU 70 · Options 30NoWillis Towers Watson PLC
Eastman Chemical Company47%PSA 60 · Option 20 · RSU 20Yes — Relative total shareholder return (rTSR)Aon plc
H.B. Fuller Companynot disclosednot disclosednot disclosedWillis Towers Watson US LLC
Huntsman Corporationnot disclosednot disclosedYes — Relative TSRMeridian Compensation Partners, LLC
Masco Corporationnot disclosednot disclosedYes — rTSRSemler Brossy
Olin Corporationnot disclosedPSU 60 · RSU 40not disclosedExequity LLP
PPG Industries Inc.93%Option 33 · PRSU 33 · TSR Shares 33NoFW Cook
The Chemours Companynot disclosedOptions 50 · PSU 25 · RSU 25Yes — Relative Total Shareholder Return (rTSR)Fariant
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company165.8%PSU 50 · Options 50Yes — Absolute TSR (aTSR)Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc.
The Sherwin-Williams Company110.86%PSU 60 · Options 40NoMercer (US) LLC
Westlake Corporation111%Option 33 · RSU 33 · PSU 33Yes — Relative TSRWillis Towers Watson

Read from each company’s Compensation Discussion and Analysis: annual incentive payout as a percentage of target, the disclosed long-term vehicle mix, whether performance-share measures include a total shareholder return component, and the retained compensation consultant. “Not disclosed” appears only where the company’s filing does not state the item.

Say-on-pay history and pay ratio
Meeting yearMeeting dateForAgainstAbstainSupportOutcome
20252025-10-0295,838,0348,205,285444,08991.72%Passed
20242024-10-0398,210,0777,071,735538,14892.81%Passed
20232023-10-0580,648,68025,902,019638,27575.24%Passed
20222022-10-0671,303,70835,067,370684,75366.6%Passed
20212021-10-0797,178,4617,242,529830,80892.33%Passed
20202020-10-0898,709,8635,708,459739,70693.87%Passed

Rows are labeled by annual-meeting year, with the meeting date beside each; the vote held in a given year acts on the prior fiscal year’s compensation.

Say-on-pay — history, company’s computation

Meeting yearMeeting dateApproval — company’s computation
20252025-10-0291.72%a
20242024-10-0392.81%b
20232023-10-0575.24%c

a. Approved under the standard stated in the filing — “Abstentions will count as present for purposes of the items on which the abstention is noted and will have the effect of a vote against the proposal.”.

b. Approved under the standard stated in the filing — “Abstentions and broker non-votes will have the effect of a vote against Proposal One.”.

c. Approved under the standard stated in the filing — “Abstentions will count as present for purposes of the items on which the abstention is noted and will have the effect of a vote against the proposal.”.

Approval percentages are the company’s own reported computations under its own stated standard, not recomputed by Velarion. Where a company does not state a standard, none is assumed.

CEO pay ratio

Ratio (CEO : median employee)185 : 1
CEO total compensation$11,133,668
Median employee compensation$60,150
Insider trades since the proxy

No insider equity transactions reported since the proxy statement.

Sources (54 citations)

Each figure is listed with the filing it comes from, where it appears in that filing, and the value as printed. Any figure can be independently confirmed against the source.

  • Section 01, Frank Sullivan. DEF 14A, filed 2026-08-25. Section “Summary Compensation Table” · page 47. As printed: 11,133,668. View filing ↗
  • Section 01, David Dennsteadt. DEF 14A, filed 2026-08-25. Section “Summary Compensation Table”. As printed: 4,712,828. View filing ↗
  • Section 01, Russell Gordon. DEF 14A, filed 2026-08-25. Section “Summary Compensation Table”. As printed: 3,275,726. View filing ↗
  • Section 01, Janeen Kastner. DEF 14A, filed 2026-08-25. Section “Summary Compensation Table”. As printed: 2,701,103. View filing ↗
  • Section 07, pay ratio. DEF 14A, filed 2026-08-25. Section “CEO Pay Ratio”. As printed: 185 : 1. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Robert A. Livingston. DEF 14A, filed 2026-08-25. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 329,066. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Salvatore D. Fazzolari. DEF 14A, filed 2026-08-25. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 311,566. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Frederick R. Nance. DEF 14A, filed 2026-08-25. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 306,566. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Craig S. Morford. DEF 14A, filed 2026-08-25. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 286,566. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Christopher L. Mapes. DEF 14A, filed 2026-08-25. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 286,566. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Elizabeth F. Whited. DEF 14A, filed 2026-08-25. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 284,066. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Bruce A. Carbonari. DEF 14A, filed 2026-08-25. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 284,066. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Julie A. Beck. DEF 14A, filed 2026-08-25. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 284,066. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Ellen M. Pawlikowski. DEF 14A, filed 2026-08-25. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 284,066. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Jenniffer D. Deckard. DEF 14A, filed 2026-08-25. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 284,066. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, William B. Summers Jr. DEF 14A, filed 2026-08-25. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 284,066. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Thomas C. Gentile III. DEF 14A, filed 2026-08-25. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 30,000. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Frank C. Sullivan. DEF 14A, filed 2026-08-25. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 0. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Jeffrey D. Rowe. DEF 14A, filed 2026-08-25. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: —. View filing ↗
  • Section 06, 2025 vote. Form 8-K, filed 2025-10-08. Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 91.72% (votes for as printed: 95,838,034). View filing ↗
  • Section 06, 2024 vote. Form 8-K, filed 2024-10-09. Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 92.81% (votes for as printed: 98,210,077). View filing ↗
  • Section 06, 2023 vote. Form 8-K, filed 2023-10-12. Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 75.24% (votes for as printed: 80,648,680). View filing ↗
  • Section 01 trend, Δ column (computed). Computed. Δ = current-FY total − prior-FY total per named officer.
  • Section 09b board cost (computed). Computed. Cash 1,440,000 + equity 1,804,726 + all other 10,000 = 3,254,726, summed across the director compensation table rows.
  • Eastman Chemical Company, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-24. CEO total compensation as printed in Eastman Chemical Company's own proxy. As printed: 19,498,966. View filing ↗
  • Albemarle Corporation, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-24. CEO total compensation as printed in Albemarle Corporation's own proxy. As printed: 15,513,654. View filing ↗
  • The Sherwin-Williams Company, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-11. CEO total compensation as printed in The Sherwin-Williams Company's own proxy. As printed: 14,914,317. View filing ↗
  • PPG Industries Inc., Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-05. CEO total compensation as printed in PPG Industries Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 14,885,022. View filing ↗
  • Huntsman Corporation, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-16. CEO total compensation as printed in Huntsman Corporation's own proxy. As printed: 14,666,623. View filing ↗
  • The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2025-12-17. CEO total compensation as printed in The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company's own proxy. As printed: 12,299,261. View filing ↗
  • Carlisle Companies Incorporated, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-17. CEO total compensation as printed in Carlisle Companies Incorporated's own proxy. As printed: 11,359,438. View filing ↗
  • RPM International Inc/DE/ (subject), Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-08-25. CEO total compensation as printed in RPM International Inc/DE/'s own proxy. As printed: 11,133,668. View filing ↗
  • Celanese Corporation, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-04. CEO total compensation as printed in Celanese Corporation's own proxy. As printed: 10,137,072. View filing ↗
  • Olin Corporation, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-20. CEO total compensation as printed in Olin Corporation's own proxy. As printed: 9,798,424. View filing ↗
  • Axalta Coating Systems Ltd., Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-21. CEO total compensation as printed in Axalta Coating Systems Ltd.'s own proxy. As printed: 9,551,721. View filing ↗
  • Cabot Corporation, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-01-27. CEO total compensation as printed in Cabot Corporation's own proxy. As printed: 9,307,883. View filing ↗
  • H.B. Fuller Company, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-04. CEO total compensation as printed in H.B. Fuller Company's own proxy. As printed: 8,830,569. View filing ↗
  • The Chemours Company, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-10. CEO total compensation as printed in The Chemours Company's own proxy. As printed: 8,595,076. View filing ↗
  • Masco Corporation, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-10. CEO total compensation as printed in Masco Corporation's own proxy. As printed: 6,641,952. View filing ↗
  • Westlake Corporation, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-02. CEO total compensation as printed in Westlake Corporation's own proxy. As printed: 6,423,651. View filing ↗
  • Avient Corporation, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-27. CEO total compensation as printed in Avient Corporation's own proxy. As printed: 5,818,257. View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Olin Corporation reciprocity. DEF 14A. Olin Corporation names RPM International Inc/DE/ in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, PPG Industries Inc. reciprocity. DEF 14A. PPG Industries Inc. names RPM International Inc/DE/ in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Eastman Chemical Company reciprocity. DEF 14A. Eastman Chemical Company names RPM International Inc/DE/ in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Avient Corporation reciprocity. DEF 14A. Avient Corporation names RPM International Inc/DE/ in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, The Sherwin-Williams Company reciprocity. DEF 14A. The Sherwin-Williams Company's most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include RPM International Inc/DE/. View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Cabot Corporation reciprocity. DEF 14A. Cabot Corporation names RPM International Inc/DE/ in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Westlake Corporation reciprocity. DEF 14A. Westlake Corporation names RPM International Inc/DE/ in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, The Chemours Company reciprocity. DEF 14A. The Chemours Company's most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include RPM International Inc/DE/. View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, H.B. Fuller Company reciprocity. DEF 14A. H.B. Fuller Company names RPM International Inc/DE/ in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Albemarle Corporation reciprocity. DEF 14A. Albemarle Corporation's most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include RPM International Inc/DE/. View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Huntsman Corporation reciprocity. DEF 14A. Huntsman Corporation names RPM International Inc/DE/ in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. reciprocity. DEF 14A. Axalta Coating Systems Ltd. names RPM International Inc/DE/ in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Celanese Corporation reciprocity. DEF 14A. Celanese Corporation names RPM International Inc/DE/ in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). View filing ↗
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