The New Standards - Hardcover

by Richard N. Ericson (Author)

Front Jacket

Companies are paying closer attention to executive compensation than ever before--in response to growing scrutiny from shareholders, the federal government, and others. With stakeholders demanding closer alignment of pay and performance, boards and compensation committees are under heavy pressure to ensure that their executive incentive plans are well designed and deliver appropriate rewards for achieving the company's objectives.

The New Standards equips board members as well as leaders and professionals in compensation, finance, and planning with a pragmatic blueprint for incentive pay. Mr. Ericson shows how to create enduring incentive structures that can adapt to a wide range of business conditions and market events for the greatest business impact and maximum return on investment.

Starting with an open letter to every Chief Executive Officer, The New Standards authoritatively discusses:

• How to design senior management incentive plans that encourage long-term, high-quality business results

• How basic principles of finance and valuation can be used to select performance metrics, establish performance targets, and calibrate incentive payouts

• Why companies should use incentive pay for senior management as a proactive business governance tool specifically designed to increase business performance

• Ways to design and test incentives to ensure that they do not encourage improper risk-taking or undue risk aversion

With market data and an abundance of how-to examples, The New Standards provides essential tips and tools for setting proper goals for business financial performance. Author and incentive design specialist Richard Ericson demystifies incentive design, enabling boards to better serve their shareholders by focusing management on the most appropriate performance criteria.

Back Jacket

Make the most of the new standards

Every year companies spend millions of dollars on executive incentives. All too often, however, these programs provide a very weak link between pay and performance, with executives potentially rewarded as much for bad decisions as they are for good ones.

Packed with examples, The New Standards insightfully discusses:

• How to link pay with business results that create long-term value

• Why incentive structures can discourage management from reasonable risk-taking, in some cases, and can enocourage imprudent risks in others

• The full range of inputs that should guide proper incentive policy

• Why performance measures must reflect both the quality and quantity of earnings

• Risk, executive behavior, and the cost of capital

• How to use valuation criteria when choosing metrics

• The pros and cons of common approaches to stock-based incentive pay

Written by noted compensation expert Richard Ericson, this innovative book is a must-read for directors and management concerned with executive compensation design or financial performance measurement and forecasting. Get the guidance and concrete solutions you need to thoroughly reexamine your executive compensation policies and practices with the principles and financial maxims found in The New Standards.

Author Biography

Richard N. Ericson is an expert in executive compensation with Towers Watson. He has more than twenty-five years of experience in business valuation, performance standard setting, incentive design, and general executive pay consulting. Mr. Ericson holds an M.B.A. in finance from the University of Chicago.