Are We Reining In Executive Compensation?
Examining the impact of SEC Requirements and the Dodd Frank Act on Executive Compensation
Marizu Madu and Mike Esser, Pearl Meyer & Partners
Executive Compensation is an area of high legislative and regulatory activity in recent years. Both Congress and the Executive Branch have been actively setting and interpreting new standards for employer compliance in areas related to accountability, transparency, and equity to shareholders and employees alike. This program will take a closer look at the most recent developments and the implications for employers by studying the following topics:
- What is the status of SEC rules and likely timing of implementation?
- What impact have these requirements had on the magnitude and/or design of executive compensation programs?
- What impact has there been on compensation governance and shareholder engagement?
- What is the likely impact of these requirements in the future?
- What are likely to be sensitive compliance issues for companies?
Marizu Madu is a Vice President with Pearl Meyer & Partners in the Los Angeles office. Marizu has 14 years of experience assisting clients with all aspects of compensation including executive, non-employee board of director and broad-based employee compensation. He advises clients on effective alignment of compensation with company strategy via annual and long-term/equity incentive plan design, as well as competitive analyses.
Mr. Madu has experience with public and private companies in a variety of industries. Prior to joining Pearl Meyer & Partners, he served as an executive compensation consultant at Towers Watson, and served in an executive compensation leadership role J.C. PennJujey, Inc. He holds an MBA with a concentration in finance from the University of Southern California, and a BA with a concentration in Business Administration from Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, PA.
Mike Esser is a Managing Director with Pearl Meyer & Partners in the Los Angeles office. Mr. Esser has more than 25 years of experience as an advisor to Boards and senior management in executive and Board compensation, compensation strategy and annual and long-term incentive/equity plan design. His consulting experience covers a variety of industries and company organizational and developmental stages, including startup/pre-IPO, privately-held, public, cooperatives and non-profit organizations.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Esser was a consultant and senior manager with Arthur Andersen LLP. Previously, Mr. Esser was an executive compensation consultant and manager with Hewitt Associates, and managed business development for Hewitt’s annual compensation survey business and co-managed that firm’s Total Compensation Measurement Database.
He is a frequently published author on compensation topics, and a sought-after speaker at numerous, forums including the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD); Directors Forum; NYSE Governance Services/Corporate Board Member West Coast Board Room Summit; USC Corporate Governance Summit; the Forum for Corporate Directors and the Corporate Directors Group. Mr. Esser received his B.B.A. with a concentration in Finance from Loyola University of Chicago. He also holds the Certified Executive Compensation Professional (CECPTM) designation through the WorldatWork Society of Certified Professionals.
