Our executive compensation strategies are never one-size-fits-all—they are meticulously tailored to align with our client’s strategic goals, talent priorities, and unique business environment. We go beyond benchmarking to the market—we interpret the data through the lens of your company’s culture, performance drivers, and stakeholder expectations to design compensation programs that work in your world.

Our deep expertise allows us to build nuanced solutions that go beyond market data and consider internal equity, evolving governance norms, and the individual impact of key talent—delivering clarity and confidence to make the change.

At Pay Governance, we develop recommendations based on in-depth research, analysis, and focused understanding of each client’s unique circumstances and objectives. We provide decision-ready, purposeful alternatives, not just a menu of options and recommendations based on a solid, succinct, logical foundation including pros and cons and potential near-and long-term implications.
Our customized advice is actionable. Our ongoing relationships with our clients ensure that we continue to “own” our recommendations and assist as programs are implemented and administered.

We adopted our philosophy, “Hired by the Compensation Committee, to work with management on behalf of the Committee and shareholders.” Our belief in maintaining an open and collaborative partnership with the Compensation Committee and management that allows for the free flow of information across all parties is foundational to our work. We provide an independent voice, the quality and applicability of which is enhanced by our detailed understanding of the company’s business and talent objectives. We collaborate with management and the Committee to ensure that our advice appropriately balances internal and external perspectives and considers the company’s objectives in totality.

We appreciate the challenge in making compensation decisions in evolving and complex environments and thrive on helping our clients navigate that decision-making process.

“No surprises” means that we communicate effectively, thoughtfully, and consistently. In preparation for Committee meetings, we coordinate with management and the Committee Chair to ensure that all discussion items have been vetted, including identifying any areas of differing opinions. Our goal is not to stifle creative thinking or differences of opinion. Rather, we facilitate thorough preparation and discussion to support informed points of view across the key stakeholders. Throughout our client relationships, we deliver consistent, informed viewpoints founded in research and analysis.

We preview our thinking well in advance of any necessary decisions to ensure management and Board members have time to ask questions and inform our ultimate recommendations.

We take our client relationships seriously and personally.

• Dedicated client teams–we take pride in our consistency and transparency. Each of our clients has a project team, with dedicated consultants enabling responsive tailored, thoughtful services.
• Our role as a strategic advisor necessitates that we are good communicators with the Committee and management. In every aspect of our work – reports, meetings, calls, emails–we deliver succinct messages with clarity. We are consistent in our communication, regardless of whether we are speaking with management in a working session or in a Board meeting.
• Availability and responsiveness – we believe a trusted advisor is an invested party. When our clients need us, we are there. If an issue arises after hours, we are responsive. If we observe an issue that may affect our client, we proactively reach out. We are on the team and committed to our client counterparts.