We’re already halfway through 2016, and it’s been an exciting few months here at Equilar. For those of you seeing this issue of C-Suite for the first time at Equilar’s 7th Annual Executive Compensation Summit, we welcome you.
At this time of year, most companies have completed their annual meetings to address Say on Pay and other shareholder proposals, they’ve re-elected or refreshed their boards, and now they’re out collecting feedback on what matters the most to shareholders. To help in these efforts, we added a major new enhancement to Equilar BoardEdge, our board assessment and recruiting tool.
Our Shareholder Engagement Report provides our clients with the latest data to ensure they have access to the most accurate information for shareholder engagement meetings. Within BoardEdge, you can download and print company summaries neatly organized for meetings, including director and executive changes, voting results from the most recent annual meeting, board benchmarking, CEO succession information, and pay for performance and executive pay.
In this issue of C-Suite, we’re focused on pressing topics for executives and board members as we enter shareholder engagement season. Our cover story is focused on four ways companies should be prepared as they go into these conversations, centered on the idea of proving performance in line with shareholder value.
Our “Ask the Experts” column focuses on the governance issues that will have the most influence on board strategy this year, including input from the Council of Institutional Investors, Ethisphere Institute, Latham & Watkins, Protiviti and Willis Towers Watson. Our one-on-one interviews feature former SEC Commissioner Dan Gallagher on Dodd-Frank’s legacy, as well as Jim Nevels—currently lead director at The Hershey Company and member of several other boards—on how he has seen the director role evolve over the past several years.
In addition, TK Kerstetter weighs in with a column on the two issues that will affect each and every board this coming year. Ron Schneider of RR Donnelley looks back at proxy season and offers suggestions on how companies can better tell their own compensation story—before proxy advisors or activist shareholders tell it for them. And finally, Seymour Cash comes up with a creative solution to board refreshment.
Please enjoy this issue and feel free to contact me directly with any feedback.
David ChunCEO and Founder, Equilardchun@equilar.com