TikTok video by theronanfarrow

Incentive Plan Trends at Tech Companies | Compensation Standards A new blog post by Senior Editor Liz Dunshee (including a report from Compensation Advisory Partners by Melissa Burek, Joanna…

PSC and MEA summarized recent rate-case outcomes: Pepco's requested increase was substantially reduced after PSC review; BGE and Washington Gas have active cases with phase-two proceedings to ensure compliance with utility compensation limits introduced by the Utility Relief Act.

In order to vest the shares, it's time to count people on Mars

The widespread critical evidence surrounding executive compensation of listed corporations has boosted shareholder activism in recent decades. The say-on-pay (SOP) mechanism—a vote in which sharehold....

YouTube video by The Business Behind The News

NetApp disclosed a $34.27 million compensation package for Chief Product Officer Syam Nair, exceeding CEO George Kurian's $22.16 million amid a 60% stock surge driven by AI storage demand.

Law Society of Ontario benchers are concerned CEO Diana Miles was given a hefty raise without the approval of the governing board.

Since 2013, the IRS has released data culled from millions of nonprofit tax filings. Use this database to find organizations and see details like their executive compensation, revenue and expenses, as...

Alphabet, Google's parent company, has approved a new three-year compensation package for CEO Sundar Pichai that could total up to $692 million, according to an SEC filing reported on March 7, 2026. The package keeps his base salary unchanged at $2 million per year (totaling $6 million over three years) and eliminates any annual bonus. The vast majority of the potential payout comes from equity awards, including restricted stock units valued at $84 million that vest gradually over the period as long as he remains with the company. Additional performance stock units are tied to Alphabet's total shareholder return compared to S&P 100 peers. Notably, this deal introduces new incentives linked to the performance and valuation growth of Alphabet's 'Other Bets' subsidiaries, specifically Waymo (autonomous vehicles) and Wing (drone delivery), marking a first for tying CEO pay directly to these ventures' success. This structure could position Pichai as one of the highest-paid executives globally if performance targets are met or exceeded, though much of it is contingent rather than guaranteed. The article contrasts Pichai's relatively low public profile and stable life in California with the high-profile real estate purchases by Google's founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin in Florida, speculated to be motivated by a proposed California ballot initiative called the 2026 Billionaire Tax Act, which would impose a one-time 5% levy on net worth over $1 billion. Pichai, a billionaire due to his accumulated Google stock since becoming CEO in 2015, has not made similar moves and continues to reside in Los Altos.

Automattic's board recently placed CEO Matt Mullenweg on paid leave for approximately 33 hours, a decision that has sparked internal controversy and legal implications. During this brief period, interim CEO Mark Davies and Chief Legal Officer Andy Missan signed reciprocal severance agreements, each agreeing to the other's exit package. These agreements, described as 'golden parachutes,' provide each executive with 12 months of base salary as a lump sum, accelerated equity vesting, the ability to exercise vested stock options, and an additional year of health coverage. The total value of these packages amounts to $8.15 million for both executives, which Automattic would now owe following Mullenweg's return to the role and subsequent termination of Davies and Missan. The severance agreements include specific legal protections, such as requiring the company to provide written notice within 60 days of discovering misconduct, allowing 30 days to correct the issue, and obtaining a majority board vote to establish 'cause' for termination. The agreements narrowly define 'cause' as gross negligence causing material harm, fraud, legal violations, or felony crimes involving 'moral turpitude.' Notably, Davies' agreement specifies that his removal from the interim CEO role won't count as 'Good Reason' for severance, ensuring Automattic won't owe him severance upon his return to CFO duties. The situation has raised questions about the board's motives, with Mullenweg suspecting the board's actions were part of a strategic maneuver rather than addressing a genuine leadership crisis. Additionally, it was revealed that Davies held no Automattic stock at the time of his departure, though he retained significant vested stock options. The board's decision to place Mullenweg on leave coincided with ongoing legal disputes, including a lawsuit from hosting provider WP Engine alleging Mullenweg destroyed evidence in legal filings. Automattic has replaced its legal counsel, with the company and Mullenweg jointly announcing the switch to Susman Godfrey LLP. The company's General Counsel, Jordan Hinkes, also had his account deactivated, suggesting his departure. The legal team is now determining whether to honor the severance agreements or challenge their validity. This incident highlights the complex interplay between corporate governance, legal strategy, and executive compensation during periods of internal conflict.