The Executive Compensation Podcast

On today’s episode, we’re joined by Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC Partner, David Bixby, and Lead Consultant, Andrew Stancel. They’re here to discuss best practices when it comes to compensation committee meeting processes.

- Why it’s so important to get best practices in place here.

- Some key processes committees use to manage the complexities around executive compensation.

- The role of the chair in decision-making.

- How business strategy impacts compensation decisions.

- Does the CEO ever participate in meetings?

- The importance of an annual calendar.

- How to think about optics and decisions that could be challenging when viewed externally.

- The value of having an external advisor.

David Bixby - https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbixby/

Andrew Stancel - https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-stancel-87233936/

This episode is brought to you by Meridian Compensation Partners. Learn more by visiting https://www.meridiancp.com/.

In today’s episode, Lead Consultants Darren Moskovitz and Kartik Balaram at Meridian Compensation Partners, LLC sit down to talk about the major current themes around compensation in Technology and Banking and how companies are responding to shifting talent dynamics and economic trends. We discuss in detail:

- In a time of changing economic circumstances, how are both industries thinking about talent?

- As major banks and technology firms shift their location strategy, will we see a change in pay models?

- In the wake of new regulations around pay disclosure, will this affect how firms hire top talent?

#compensation #wages #equity

This episode is brought to you by Meridian Compensation Partners. Learn more by visiting https://www.meridiancp.com/.

The SEC’s new rule mandating Pay-vs-Performance disclosure takes effect for fiscal years ending on or after December 16, 2022. Public companies are feeling the pressure of navigating complex new requirements on an incredibly short timeline.

In this podcast, Daniel Rodda, Partner at Meridian Compensation Partners, and Laura Hay, Lead Consultant for Meridian, break down what companies need to know as they begin this process.

You’ll learn:

-The rationale behind the new Pay-versus-Performance Disclosure and its key requirements.

-What data should be included in the table and what should be included in the narrative to provide further context.

-The options companies have for selecting that data, from peer group selection to specific performance metrics.

-How companies will calculate “compensation actually paid” and why it’s so complicated.

-Key considerations for communicating the pay-for-performance story clearly and effectively.

-Potential impacts on shareholder perceptions and proxy advisor evaluations.

-What companies should be doing now to get the ball rolling.

… and more!

After you listen, visit MeridianCP.com to learn more about Meridian Compensation Partners.

This episode is brought to you by Meridian Compensation Partners. Learn more by visiting MeridianCP.com.

#compensation #wages #spac #equity

On this episode, Jonathan Szabo (Partner) and Matt Seto (Lead Consultant) at Meridian Compensation Partners discuss how compensation committees use informed judgment when considering market data:

- Best practices for presenting data to a compensation committee, with a focus on process best practices.

- Relevant market data sources to consider, and the tradeoffs of using proxy peer group data and survey data.

- How to account for benchmarking of roles that are unique in the marketplace.

- Dealing with year-over-year volatility in market data.

- Going beyond the market data: The implications of real retention risk, role criticality, tenure and internal equity.

#compensation #executivecompensation #equity

This episode is brought to you by Meridian Compensation Partners. Learn more by visiting MeridianCP.com.

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For many companies, long-term incentives comprise the vast majority of an executive’s compensation. As such, defining metrics and setting performance goals are high-stakes activities.

This episode features Andrew McElheran, Partner and Lead Consultant at Meridian Compensation Partners, and Michael Meyer, Lead Consultant for Meridian. They discuss:

- Why the three-year performance period is the industry standard, despite being too short for many companies and too long for others.

- How the pandemic, ongoing market challenges like supply chain disruptions, and inflation continue to impact long-term performance goal setting.

- Best practices for the goal-setting process, including incorporating a variety of reference points: internal budget data, historical performance, peer group metrics and investor and proxy advisor expectations, to name but a few.

- The differences between financial and relative performance metrics and how companies evaluate relative performance.

- What investors really want to see reflected across a company’s relative performance goals: evidence that executives are in it for the long haul.

… and more!

After you listen, visit MeridianCP.com to learn more about Meridian Compensation Partners.

This episode is brought to you by Meridian Compensation Partners. Learn more by visiting MeridianCP.com.

#compensation #wages #spac #equity

What are we doing wrong with executive compensation?

Partners Jared Berman and Jamie McGough of Meridian Compensation Partners talk about challenges and opportunities in this episode of The Executive Compensation Podcast. Jared has over 17 years of experience consulting on compensation strategies and pay philosophies, benchmarking, and plan design. Jamie has over 25 years of experience consulting and has done extensive work linking shareholder value to compensation programs.

Meridian’s consultants challenge themselves regularly to reflect on how they can grow their expertise and advance the field. Jared and Jamie discuss common problems, explain the influence of historical trends and regulations on current practices, and outline alternative plans for unique circumstances.

You’ll learn about how compensation plans can foster an owner mindset by focusing on long-term value generation, how proxy advisors react to alternative plans and influence Say-on-Pay outcomes, and what challenges and unexpected complications can arise when companies implement alternative strategies, like pay programs without annual incentives.

After you listen, connect with Jared Berman and Jamie McGough on LinkedIn.

This episode is brought to you by Meridian Compensation Partners. Learn more by visiting MeridianCP.com.

Gerard Leider, Partner, and Ron Rosenthal, Lead Consultant, share expertise and best practices on compensation design for spin-offs on this episode of The Executive Compensation Podcast. Gerard has over 25 years of experience providing guidance on total compensation strategy, analysis, design, and valuation. Ron has extensive experience advising companies undergoing corporate transactions including mergers, acquisitions, and spinoffs.

When a company spins off a division into a standalone publicly-traded company, there are many factors to consider. Ron and Gerard offer a three-phase approach to preparing for the transition. They outline what issues to focus on during each phase and what roles the various stakeholder groups should play in the process.

You’ll also learn why peer group evaluation and benchmarking are so important for designing competitive compensation plans, key issues to address when designing new annual and long-term incentive plans for spin-off companies, and steps to take when preparing for the new company’s first proxy statement.

After you listen, connect with Gerard Leider and Ron Rosenthal on LinkedIn.

This episode is brought to you by Meridian Compensation Partners. Learn more by visiting MeridianCP.com.

Chris Havey, Partner, and Patrick Powers, Lead Consultant, are the featured experts on this episode of The Executive Compensation Podcast. Chris has 20 years of experience consulting across industries on incentive design, linking pay with performance, benchmarking, and more. Patrick works with companies of all sizes on compensation strategies, plan design, and governance.

The proxy statement is a critical communication tool for companies and shareholders. In this podcast, Chris and Patrick discuss how companies articulate the link between pay and performance in the proxy statement. They provide a rationale for performance metrics and explain how those metrics tie to strategic outcomes.

You’ll also learn about disclosing shareholder engagement and outreach; why establishing formal policies for involuntary severance will be a top concern; and why succinct explanations with easy-to-read graphs build credibility.

After you listen, connect with Chris Havey and Patrick Powers on LinkedIn.

This episode is brought to you by Meridian Compensation Partners. Learn more by visiting MeridianCP.com.

Michael Powers, Managing Partner, and Rosie Newman, Lead Consultant, are the featured experts on this episode of The Executive Compensation Podcast. Michael has over 25 years of experience consulting on executive compensation design issues, including substantial experience at the board of director level. Rosie has five years of experience consulting for a variety of industries including tech, consumer products, and financial services.

While it is still a minority practice, there are 10 to 20 large-cap public companies using equity incentive choice programs successfully. In this podcast, Michael and Rosie explain the fundamental elements of equity choice programs, how they might be structured, and the benefits they offer to both employees and employers.

They also discuss some of the risks involved. You’ll learn what things to consider if you plan to include the C-Suite in an equity choice program, what kinds of resources and information employees need to make the most informed decision, and why equity choice programs can be a meaningful driver of talent recruitment and retention.

After you listen, connect with Michael Powers and Rosie Newman on LinkedIn.

This episode is brought to you by Meridian Compensation Partners. Learn more by visiting MeridianCP.com.

Jessica Page, Lead Consultant, and Dan Kaufman, Partner at Meridian Compensation Partners, are the featured experts on this episode of The Executive Compensation Podcast. Jessica has more than 10 years of experience advising corporations on executive compensation matters including benchmarking, corporate transactions, and incentive plan design. Dan consults on a variety of issues including short- and long-term plan design, alignment of pay and performance, and compensation disclosure.

Board members play a critical role in a company’s management, but how should they be compensated for their time and effort? The director role is one of oversight and risk management, so pay differs from executive compensation in that it is based on service, not company performance.

You’ll learn how companies currently structure director compensation programs and how pay programs were impacted by the pandemic. Jessica and Dan also discuss future trends, including compensating for roles on special committees or assignments and establishing a mandatory retirement age.

After you listen, connect with Jessica Page and Dan Kaufman on LinkedIn.

This episode is brought to you by Meridian Compensation Partners. Learn more by visiting MeridianCP.com.