A CEO is being praised after giving employees a combined $240 million in bonuses following the sale of his family-owned company.
Fibrebond CEO Graham Walker ensured that hundreds of workers directly benefited when the Louisiana-based manufacturer was sold earlier in 2025. Before agreeing to the $1.7 billion sale to Eaton, Walker set aside 15% of the proceeds for the company’s 540 full-time employees.
That decision created a $240 million bonus pool, which began paying out in July. Employees are expected to receive an average of around $443,000 each over the next five years, provided they remain with the company. Long-serving workers will receive more based on tenure.
Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, Walker said the move was about recognizing loyalty during difficult periods in the company’s history. “I hope I’m 80 years old and get an email about how it’s impacted someone,” he said.
What is Fibrebond?
Fibrebond was founded in 1982 by Walker’s father, Claud Walker, and is headquartered in Minden, Louisiana. The company manufactures electrical equipment enclosures and later expanded heavily into data center infrastructure.
A major $150 million investment in 2020 helped fuel rapid growth as demand surged alongside the rise of AI data centers, with sales reportedly increasing by about 400% over the last five years.
The bonuses reportedly sparked emotional reactions across the workforce. Some employees used the money to pay off debt, while others invested in retirement or took long-delayed vacations. Several workers initially believed the announcement was a joke due to the size of the payouts, according to People.
Walker is set to officially step down on December 31 following the completed sale. Reflecting on the transition, he said it was time to move on for the good of the business and those involved.
In other business news, the Google CEO has said the AI will require everyone to adapt in every job, or risk falling behind.
