Who is the new CFO of CRH and when does the appointment take effect?

Nancy Buese, former CFO of Baker Hughes and Newmont Corporation, will become CRH's Chief Financial Officer effective May 12, 2025. Alan Connolly, the interim CFO, serves through May 11, 2025, then returns to his prior role as Director of Strategic Finance.

Is this change a sign of instability in CRH's finance leadership?

The filing does not indicate any disagreement or internal conflict. Connolly is returning to a senior finance role, and CEO Jim Mintern publicly thanked him for his contribution. The transition appears planned, with the appointment announced roughly four weeks before the effective date.

How is Buese being compensated, and does the package align with performance?

Her package combines a $1.0 million base salary, a 110% target bonus, and a $4.0 million target annual equity award weighted 60% toward performance stock units, which tie a meaningful share of pay to measurable results. The $1.0 million cash bonus and $2.0 million RSU grant are one-time items, and the two-year vesting on the RSUs supports retention.

What severance protections does Buese have, and what does this mean for shareholders?

Outside a change-in-control period, termination without cause or for good reason yields 1x salary plus target bonus, prorated bonus, and 12 months of COBRA premiums. Within two years after a change of control, the severance rises to 2x salary plus target bonus, prorated bonus, and 18 months of COBRA premiums. This is a standard protection for senior executives, though investors may want to review the full agreement once filed.

Does the filing indicate any change in CRH's strategy or outlook?

No. The press release refers only to Buese overseeing global finance and contributing to strategy, operational discipline, and long-term value creation. It contains no new financial guidance, strategic initiatives, or updated outlook, and the forward-looking statements reference CRH's existing risk factors in its 2024 Form 10-K.

CRH 8-K: Leadership Changes & Regulation FD

01—Abstract

Summary

Summary of the 8-K filed April 17, 2025. Cited figures are marked; the original filing is the authoritative source.

CRH plc (NYSE: CRH) announced on April 17, 2025 that Nancy Buese will become its Chief Financial Officer effective May 12, 2025, succeeding interim CFO Alan Connolly, who will return to his prior role as Director of Strategic Finance after May 11, 2025.

Buese brings a substantial public-company finance background, including prior CFO roles at Baker Hughes (November 2022 to February 2025) and Newmont Corporation (2016 to 2022), as well as earlier CFO positions at MarkWest Energy Partners and MPLX. She also currently sits on the Board of Chubb Limited. The leadership change fills a role that had been held on an interim basis, which removes a potential source of uncertainty for investors during a period of strategic growth.

The compensation package disclosed under Item 5.02 is substantial and signals the Board's intent to attract an experienced executive. Buese's employment agreement provides a $1,000,000^a base salary, a pro-rated target bonus of 110% of base salary (maximum 220%), a 2025 annual equity award with a target grant date fair value of $4,000,000 (60% PSUs, 40% RSUs), and a one-time $1,000,000 cash bonus plus a $2,000,000 RSU grant vesting 50% in 2026 and 50% in 2027. Severance is 1x salary plus target bonus outside a change-in-control window, and 2x salary plus target bonus if terminated within two years after a change of control.

Her employment agreement requires six months' notice for termination, and she is subject to a nine-month non-compete and 12-month non-solicitation period, reduced by any garden leave. From an investor standpoint, this is a routine but meaningful executive transition.

The filing does not disclose any disagreements with management, related-party transactions, or changes to strategy beyond the press release's general language about overseeing global finance and supporting operational discipline and long-term value creation. The full employment agreement will be filed with the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2025.

02—Key points

Key Highlights

Nancy Buese appointed CFO effective May 12, 2025, replacing interim CFO Alan Connolly, who returns to Director of Strategic Finance after May 11, 2025.
Buese brings deep public-company finance experience, including prior CFO roles at Baker Hughes, Newmont Corporation, MarkWest Energy Partners, and MPLX, plus a former partnership at Ernst & Young.
Base salary set at $1,000,000 with a pro-rated target bonus of 110% of base salary (maximum 220%).
2025 annual equity award targeted at $4,000,000 grant date fair value, split 60% PSUs and 40% RSUs, with Compensation Committee discretion to adjust the mix.
One-time $1,000,000 cash sign-on bonus and a $2,000,000 RSU grant vesting 50% in 2026 and 50% in 2027.
Severance of 1x salary plus target bonus, or 2x within two years after a change of control, plus COBRA premium coverage.
Restrictive covenants include a nine-month non-compete and 12-month non-solicitation period, reduced by any garden leave; the full employment agreement will be filed with the Q1 2025 Form 10-Q.

03—Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the new CFO of CRH and when does the appointment take effect?
Nancy Buese, former CFO of Baker Hughes and Newmont Corporation, will become CRH's Chief Financial Officer effective May 12, 2025. Alan Connolly, the interim CFO, serves through May 11, 2025, then returns to his prior role as Director of Strategic Finance.
Is this change a sign of instability in CRH's finance leadership?
The filing does not indicate any disagreement or internal conflict. Connolly is returning to a senior finance role, and CEO Jim Mintern publicly thanked him for his contribution. The transition appears planned, with the appointment announced roughly four weeks before the effective date.
How is Buese being compensated, and does the package align with performance?
Her package combines a $1.0 million base salary, a 110% target bonus, and a $4.0 million target annual equity award weighted 60% toward performance stock units, which tie a meaningful share of pay to measurable results. The $1.0 million cash bonus and $2.0 million RSU grant are one-time items, and the two-year vesting on the RSUs supports retention.
What severance protections does Buese have, and what does this mean for shareholders?
Outside a change-in-control period, termination without cause or for good reason yields 1x salary plus target bonus, prorated bonus, and 12 months of COBRA premiums. Within two years after a change of control, the severance rises to 2x salary plus target bonus, prorated bonus, and 18 months of COBRA premiums. This is a standard protection for senior executives, though investors may want to review the full agreement once filed.
Does the filing indicate any change in CRH's strategy or outlook?
No. The press release refers only to Buese overseeing global finance and contributing to strategy, operational discipline, and long-term value creation. It contains no new financial guidance, strategic initiatives, or updated outlook, and the forward-looking statements reference CRH's existing risk factors in its 2024 Form 10-K.

04—Continue

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