Kraft CEO Beats Counterparts in Total Compensation

The acquisition of Cadbury’s and other restructuring programmes saw the total compensation for Kraft Foods’ top executive increase 41% in 2009.

Kraft Foods CEO Irene Rosenfeld’s total compensation was $26.3m compared to $18.7m in 2008, the company said.

PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi earned total compensation of $15.8m while Coca-Cola Company chief Muhtar Kent made $18.8m during the year.

Kraft said Rosenfeld didn’t earn a bonus for the third straight year but was awarded a cash payment of $6.6m based on a long-term incentive programme dating back to 2007.

According to the company, her salary rose 1% to $1.47m and she will earn an annual incentive award of nearly $4m to be paid a year from now, equal to this year’s payment.