Post-it and Scotch tape maker 3M abruptly fired its chief business officer, who had a $4.5 million compensation package, for ‘inappropriate conduct’

• 3M fired its chief business officer, saying he behaved inappropriately and violated company policy.
• It didn’t share further details but said it took “immediate” action against Michael Vale.
• He was promoted just weeks before he his termination. His 2022 total compensation was $4.5 million.

Manufacturing company 3M has fired its chief business and country officer after he allegedly behaved inappropriately and violated company policy.

3M, which manufactures brands including Post-it, Scotch, and Scotch-Brite, announced on Monday that Michael Vale had been “terminated for cause,” effective May 12.

“His dismissal is due to inappropriate personal conduct and violation of company policy, unrelated to the company’s operations and financial performance,” the company said in a statement. “When 3M learned of and verified the violation, it took immediate action.”

It didn’t share detail’s of Vale’s alleged wrongdoing.

The announcement came just weeks after 3M promoted Vale to group president and chief business and country officer, a new role which gave him responsbility for the company’s safety and industrial, consumer, and transportation and electronics business groups as well as customer operations, country governance, and emerging markets.

3M did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for further information about Vale’s termination. Vale did not immediately respond to a LinkedIn request for comment.

In 2022, when he served as group president of 3M’s safety and industrial business, Vale’s total compensation was $4.5 million, financial filings show.

Since April 2022, Vale’s target total cash compensation was $1.62 million, half of which was made up of his base salary. He was also eligible for long-term incentive awards with an aggregate target grant value of $3.02 million.

Vale had worked at 3M for 30 years. According to his LinkedIn, Vale started at the manufacturer as a senior research chemist for its visual systems division in Texas and has since worked in Italy, Brazil, and Spain.

3M said that it had started a search for Vale’s successor and that the leaders of 3M’s safety and industrial, consumer, and transportation and electronics business groups would now report to CEO Mike Roman instead.