Mercedes Benz

Matthew Simoncini, who retired after guiding seat supplier Lear Corp. to record sales and profits, was the highest-paid CEO at publicly traded U.S. automotive companies last year, according to the Automotive News/Equilar CEO Compensation study. Simoncini's stock awards alone were worth more than the total compensation for the No. 2 CEO, Mary Barra of General Motors. The only other CEO to top $20 million in total compensation last year was Scott Santi of Illinois Tool Works, which makes engineered fasteners and other components, including capless refueling systems. The Automotive News/Equilar study analyzed data for 39 companies, including automakers, suppliers and public retailers. Median compensation for the 39 CEOs was $5.5 million in 2017, 19 percent more than a year earlier. The study calculates the benefits that executives receive when stock and options are vested or exercised, so the numbers differ from companies' executive compensation reports that value awards when they...