Category Archives: Executive Compensation

Non-Profit CEOs Deserve Competitive Pay Too

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Joe Ahmad

A recent survey by the Chronicle of Philanthropy points out that, although CEO pay is essentially just keeping up with inflation, some of the highest earners routinely make more than $1 million. Nationally, the Chronicle reports, executive pay at the … Continue reading →

Posted in CEOs, Executive Compensation, Executive contracts | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Non-Profit CEOs Deserve Competitive Pay Too

Executive Compensation Under the Microscope

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Joe Ahmad

It looks like compensation committees at J.P. Morgan Chase and Citigroup Inc. are keenly aware of the role that public perception and company performance plays in setting executive compensation, particularly in light of the financial industry’s recent poor performance (and … Continue reading →

Posted in CEOs, Clawback provisions, Executive Compensation, Executive contracts | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Executive Compensation Under the Microscope

Saving Face in the Face of a Demotion

Posted on June 25, 2012 by Joe Ahmad

The saga of the reported demotion of Ann Curry, the “Today” show anchor, causes me to consider how high-profile executives can save face and prosper after suffering a similar fate. Although Curry’s ordeal is being played out in the national … Continue reading →

Posted in CEOs, Executive Compensation, Executive contracts, Non-Competes | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Saving Face in the Face of a Demotion

Negotiating Executive Compensation in an ‘Occupy’ Era

Posted on March 30, 2012 by Joe Ahmad

To follow the news, it’s tempting to think that a good chunk of the country’s financial woes can be blamed on high executive compensation. The latest incarnation of that resentment is the Occupy movement, as well as the “say-on-pay” provisions … Continue reading →

Posted in CEOs, Executive Compensation, Non-Competes, Stock Options | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Negotiating Executive Compensation in an ‘Occupy’ Era

Is Your Pension Going to Be What You Think It’s Going to Be?

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Joe Ahmad

American Airlines’ request to have the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corp. bail out its $9 billion in unfunded pension obligations should have executives everywhere taking a hard look at their employer-funded retirement plans. Particularly for executives who work in troubled industries, … Continue reading →

Posted in CEOs, Executive Compensation, Legal, Pension plans | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Is Your Pension Going to Be What You Think It’s Going to Be?

What to do when your successful business unit is sold

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Joe Ahmad

Success is sometimes rewarded in strange ways, such as when a company sells off a highly profitable business unit in order to raise cash (as Nestle did when it bought Cadbury and as Barnes & Noble is considering doing with … Continue reading →

Posted in CEOs, Change of Control Agreements, Dodd-Frank, Executive Compensation, Executive contracts, Legal, Retention agreements | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on What to do when your successful business unit is sold

“Say on Pay” Hasn’t Hurt Exec Compensation–Yet

Posted on July 8, 2011 by Joe Ahmad

There’s clearly some nervousness among executives these days, given that shareholders now have a “say on pay.” But by most accounts, they don’t need to be all that nervous. “Say on pay” is a provision of Dodd-Frank that allows shareholders to cast an advisory … Continue reading →

Posted in Clawback provisions, Dodd-Frank, Executive Compensation | Tagged , , | Comments Off on “Say on Pay” Hasn’t Hurt Exec Compensation–Yet

Options Backdating Still a Problem

Posted on March 29, 2011 by Joe Ahmad

Executives looking to maximize their compensation have many ways to do so besides a bump in salary, including bonuses, stock, stock options, retirement plans, retirement insurance, golden parachutes, and other perks of the company-jet and season-ticket variety. There is great … Continue reading →

Posted in CEOs, Executive Compensation, Sarbanes-Oxley, Stock Options, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Options Backdating Still a Problem

If there’s a change of control, an executive needs options in writing

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Joe Ahmad

Change of control agreements, or golden parachutes as they are more commonly known, can be a lifesaver for an executive whose employer is purchased by another company, but these agreements also are rife with pitfalls. The most common problem is … Continue reading →

Posted in CEOs, Change of Control Agreements, Executive Compensation, Executive contracts | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on If there’s a change of control, an executive needs options in writing

Executive disputes may head to arbitration, not to court

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Joe Ahmad

You don’t take an executive position expecting it will end in a legal fight, but if it does, you need to know where you’ve agreed the fight will take place. Many executive contracts contain arbitration agreements, and others have clauses that determine … Continue reading →

Posted in ADR, CEOs, Complaints Against Executives, Executive Compensation, Executive contracts | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Executive disputes may head to arbitration, not to court