Forward Air (FWRD) executive compensation, 2026 proxy

Shawn Stewart, Chief Executive Officer, was paid $5.6M in 2025, up 22% from $4.6M the year before. The CEO-to-median-employee pay ratio was 140:1, on median employee pay of $39,663.

Filed
April 29, 2026
Annual meeting
June 17, 2026
Pay year
2025
Named executives
5
CEO total pay
$5.6M+22% vs prior year
CEO to median employee
140:1median $39,663
CEO pay in equity
73%$4M in awards
Prior say-on-pay support
92%of votes cast
CEO Target Bonus
$900,000100% of base salary target
Say-on-Pay Support
92.2%From 2025 annual meeting

How Stewart was paid

$5.6M in total for 2025, as reported in the Summary Compensation Table. Equity awards are valued at grant, not at what they turned out to be worth.

Salary16%Stock awards73%Non-equity incentive11%All other compensation0%

Named executive officers

ExecutiveTotal
Shawn StewartChief Executive Officer$5,561,309
Jamie PiersonChief Financial Officer$3,139,966
Jerome LorrainExecutive Chairman$1,466,762
Michael L. HanceChief Legal Officer and Secretary$1,363,519
Eric BrandtChief Commercial Officer$1,286,226

What changed and why

  • $5.6MChief Executive Officer Shawn Stewart earned total compensation of $5,561,309 in fiscal 2025.
  • $4MStock awards for the CEO totaled $4,037,990 including performance shares and restricted stock.
  • The ratio of CEO to median employee annual total compensation was 140.2 to 1.
  • 92.2%Approximately 92.2% of votes cast approved the say-on-pay proposal at the 2025 annual meeting.

About this page

Figures are automated and can be wrong; check the filing for the exact numbers. Totals follow SEC rules, which value stock and option awards at grant. Read the DEF 14A proxy statement for footnotes and the compensation committee's full reasoning.