During any period of business uncertainty, board and compensation committee members, executive management teams and human resources leaders will feel pressure to act quickly. A singular proven strategy underscored successful compensation decisions through both the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic—zoom out far enough to see the full picture and act in a manner that is systematic and consistent with your organization’s broader philosophy (including your compensation philosophy) and mission.
Key U.S. Executive Compensation Takeaways from the ISS 2024 U.S. Proxy Season Review
On September 5, 2024, Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) released its 2024 Proxy Season Review: United States – Executive Compensation. The below chart summarizes our observations of the 2024 data and key takeaways as we look to the 2025 proxy season. While these trends are positive for issuers overall, they underscore that issuers, their boards, compensation committees, and management should continue to take an active role in compensation programs, disclosure, and shareholder engagement practices.