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What Traits Compensation Committees Need in an HR Head
by David Swinford
Published in Directorship - December 2011
This article discusses what distinguishes a strong and effective HR head who is capable of providing Boards with a knowledgeable and independent voice on compensation issues.


2011 Shareholder Voting Trends - Preparing for 2012 Say on Pay
by Susan O'Donnell
Published in Bankdirector.com - December 2011
Companies that received shareholder support for Say on Pay votes last year are not guaranteed the same result in 2012, particularly given changes to ISS advisory practices. It is not too late to make well-informed decisions, engage shareholders, and improve disclosure to increase the likelihood of receiving a positive Say on Pay result in 2012.


Say on Pay
by David Bixby
Published in Texas CEO Magazine - December 2011
While nearly all Say on Pay votes in 2011 got majority support from shareholders, companies should be prepared for the likelihood of a rougher road ahead in 2012.


Updated Say on Golden Parachute Votes in 2011: Widespread Shareholder Support Continues for Transactional Pay Arrangements
by Margaret Black and Dan Wetzel
November 2011
Say on Golden Parachute proxy voting results to October 31, 2011 under new Dodd-Frank disclosure rules for mergers and other transactions.


What’s the Takeaway on the 2011 Say on Pay Votes?
by Deborah Lifshey & Dana Etra
Published in Executive Counsel - October/November 2011
How companies can help promote positive shareholder advisory votes in 2012, based on results of the first proxy season under new Say on Pay voting requirements.


Compensation & Risk - The Directors' Responsibility
by Laura Hay & Susan O'Donnell
Published in BankDirector.com - November 2011
This White Paper discusses a Board process for ensuring that employee incentive program designs and administration do not threaten the safety or soundness of the institution.


Say on Pay and Say on Frequency: What We’ve Learned So Far
by Michael Enos
Published in Directorship - September 2011
An analysis of Say on Pay and Say on Frequency votes from the 2011 proxy season can help companies avoid common disclosure and design pitfalls to increase their prospects for gaining shareholder support for executive pay programs in 2012.


Putting Together Pay Plans After TARP
by Susan O’Donnell and Jinyoon Chung
Published in ABA Banking Journal - September 23, 2011
The impact of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and the strategies being used by participants as they emerge from the program amidst an environment of continuously changing compensation regulation.


Is Your Compensation Program Avocado Green or Stainless Steel? How to Tell When It’s Time for an Update
by Aria Glasgow
June 2011
Unlike a hopelessly outdated appliance, compensation programs may only need some thoughtful tweaking to remain responsive to your organization’s changing needs.


The Five Critical Compensation Committee Issues in 2011
by David Swinford
Published in Global Reference Guide 2011: Governance & Executive Compensation
Why pay for performance, retention, controversial executive pay practices, communication and decision-making will be make-or-break issues for Compensation Committee members this year.


Taking Peer Group Selection to the Next Level
by Steven Van Putten and Terry Newth
Published in Workspan - May 2011
Long a cornerstone of analyses of executive compensation opportunities, peer groups increasingly are being utilized to promote meaningful pay for performance and better align variable pay programs with the company’s needs.


Top 10 Compensation Committee Agenda Items for 2011
Approaches to addressing 10 of the most pressing executive pay and governance items on the plates of Compensation Committees in 2011.


Compensation and Governance: Best Practices of Financial Institutions Post-Dodd-Frank
by Susan O'Donnell
The financial crisis put a spotlight on the banking industry, and institutions are expected to re-evaluate their compensation practices through a fresh lens and under an entirely different set of perceptions and expectations.


Executive Pay in 2011
by Jim Heim
Published in Workspan - March 2011
A look at how companies are reassessing executive pay for performance programs – including incentive metrics, goals and payouts – in a recovering economy.


Salary Structure Change and Compensation Increase Budgets
by Ken Cardinal
Published in WorldatWork - February 2011
This white paper discusses the multiple applications and less obvious nuances of the data provided in WorldatWork’s annual Salary Budget Survey.


Executive Pay Circa 2011
by Jim Heim
Published in Financial Executive - January/February 2011
A discussion of how firms plan to adapt their executive pay practices and programs in 2011 to new competitive, regulatory and economic challenges, including forward-looking survey data from PM&P on Compensation Planning: Looking Ahead to Executive Pay Practices in 2011.


Salary Structure Change and Compensation Increase Budgets
by Ken Cardinal
Published in WorldatWork - February 2011
This white paper discusses the multiple uses and less obvious nuances of WorldatWork’s annual Salary Budget Survey report.


Seven Ways to Get the Most Out of Salary Surveys
by Rebecca Toman and Kristine Oliver
Published in Workspan - February 2011
Practical advice on choosing and using salary survey data, including selecting a vendor and getting the most value.


Worth Diving Into: The Two-Pool Approach to Awarding Top Performers
by Jim Heim
Published in Workspan - November 2010
How the two-pool approach to annual incentives can provide a valuable middle ground between the pool and allocation approach and goal and target system.


Top 10 Compensation Issues for Tax-Exempts in 2011
January 2011
How Boards can ensure high-level pay programs are grounded in sound and defensible rationales and administered within accepted good governance standards in 2011.


Top 10 Considerations for Establishing an Executive Compensation Philosophy
by Peter Lupo
Published in Directors Daily - November 2010
PM&P white paper outlines 10 recommendations for a creating a compensation philosophy that effectively communicates to investors and regulators how high-level pay programs are driving the company’s most important strategies and needs.


The Texas 250
by Edward H. McGaughey III
Published in Texas CEO - November 2010
A roundup of the 250 top-performing Texas companies, based on a proxy analysis of total shareholder return (TSR), earnings per share (EPS) and return on capital employed (ROCE).


Getting the Most Value from Your Compensation Consultant
by Peter Lupo
Ideas for how Compensation Committees can avoid common pitfalls in their relationship with compensation consulting firms in order to get the most value and best results.


Executive Compensation Clawbacks Under Dodd-Frank
by Deborah Lifshey
Published in Corporate Board Member - July 2010
How the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection will significantly extend the reach of mandatory executive compensation clawbacks and the likely impact on programs and corporate governance.


Top 10 Compensation Committee Agenda Items for 2010
Approaches to addressing 10 of the most pressing executive pay and governance items on the plates of Compensation Committees in 2010.


10 Steps to Paying for Real Performance
by Aria Glasgow and Kristine Oliver
Published in WorldAtWork
What companies should consider when assessing the validity and effectiveness of performance-based pay programs.


Repositioning Your Pay Programs for Recovery - Six Steps for Conducting an Effective Compensation Audit
by Aria Glasgow and Jim Hudner
An in-depth process for companies to ensure their compensation practices remain aligned with new market practices and evolving business strategies for the recovery.


CEO Succession - The Importance of Compensation
by Matt Turner
Published in Directorship - June 2010
How Compensation Committees can balance practical considerations and multiple perspectives in determining executive performance metrics.


Defining Executive Pay for Performance
by Matt Turner
Published in Workspan - May 2010
How Compensation Committees can balance practical considerations and multiple perspectives in determining executive performance metrics.


Executive Compensation in the Limelight This Year
by Edgar H. McGaughey III
Published in Texas CEO Magazine - May 2010
New considerations for executive pay and governance in a recovering economy.


Compensation Risk - Regulatory Requirements and Practical Applications
by Deborah Lifshey
Published in Pension & Benefits Daily - April 2010
A summary of significant new mandates related to the assessment of compensation-related risk and a suggested approach to conducting such assessments.


When the Going Gets Tough, Opt for Option Exchange Programs
by Deborah Lifshey (co-author)
Published in NACD Directorship - April 2010
Why current environments makes stock option exchanges a more appealing route for some companies than issuing new option grants and how such programs work.


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