Board Leaders’ Pay Stays Frozen Even as Workloads Rise
By Agenda | Sep 14, 2026 | Read more
Partner Matt Vnuk and Senior Associate Kyle White were quoted in an Agenda article examining why compensation for board leadership roles has remained flat despite growing responsibilities. Matt noted that leadership premiums are often modest relative to the additional time and reputational risk involved, while Kyle explained that concerns about how percentage increases may be perceived can discourage boards from adjusting these premiums.
The Typical Tech Leader’s Pay Rose $810K Since 2021—More Than COOs, CFOs, and CIOs Combined
By Fortune | Sep 7, 2026 | Read more
Partners Dan Laddin and Kyle Eastman were quoted in a Fortune article about the sharp rise in compensation for technology executives. Dan explained that CTO roles increasingly encompass business strategy, workflows, customer needs and the use of data and AI, contributing to greater competition for experienced talent. Kyle noted that differences in the CTO role across companies and industries require boards to exercise more judgment when benchmarking compensation.
Say on Pay Hangs in the Balance. How Should Comp Committees Move Forward?
By Agenda | Sep 4, 2026 | Read more
Partner Shaun Bisman was quoted in an Agenda article discussing a proposed reduction in say-on-pay requirements for many public companies. Shaun noted that eliminating the vote would remove a consistent source of shareholder feedback and could lead investors to express compensation concerns through votes against compensation committee members or shareholder proposals instead.
Long Island’s highest-paid executives made 115 times the typical worker; top CEO made $17.2 million
By Newsday | Aug 24, 2026 | Read more
Partner Kelly Malafis was quoted in a Newsday article examining compensation among Long Island’s highest-paid public company executives. Kelly noted that public companies typically receive strong shareholder support for their executive compensation programs, with median say-on-pay support of 95% nationally and 97% among Long Island companies through the first half of 2026, providing context for the substantially lower support received by Arbor Realty Trust.
Finance Chief Pay Continued to Climb Last Year — Sometimes Exponentially
By Agenda | Aug 10, 2026 | Read more
Partner Kelly Malafis was quoted in an Agenda article examining rising CFO compensation and the challenges companies face in retaining finance leaders. Kelly explained that CFOs are increasingly helping drive business strategy through capital allocation, M&A and digital transformation, expanding both their responsibilities and their potential role in CEO succession. Kelly also noted that salary increases can affect annual and long-term incentives because those awards are often calculated as a percentage of salary.
Is Your Compensation Committee Keeping Pace With Your Bank’s Growth?
By Bank Director | Aug 10, 2026 | Read more
Partners Shaun Bisman and Mike Bonner authored a Bank Director article explaining how compensation committee oversight should evolve as a bank grows. Shaun and Mike highlighted the importance of more formal committee processes, stronger incentive compensation risk management, and clear proxy disclosure and stakeholder engagement to keep compensation programs aligned with performance, strategy and prudent risk management.
Half of Last Year’s 10 Biggest Golden Parachutes Came from Just One Company
By Agenda | Aug 7, 2026 | Read more
Partner Shaun Bisman was quoted in an Agenda article examining the largest executive golden parachute arrangements disclosed in 2026. Shaun noted that well-designed arrangements should preserve executives’ objectivity during a potential transaction while avoiding excessive benefits, emphasizing safeguards such as double-trigger vesting, reasonable severance multiples and the elimination of excise tax gross-ups.
The CEO Pay Peak in Fashion and Retail
By Women’s Wear Daily | Jul 27, 2026 | Read more
Partners Kyle Eastman and Matt Vnuk were quoted in a Women’s Wear Daily article on CEO pay trends across the fashion and retail industries. Kyle explained that reported CEO pay is not necessarily cash in the CEO’s pocket, as compensation often includes equity and annual incentive components, and that shareholders are generally focused on whether there is a clear rationale behind the pay. Matt analyzed WWD’s pay study and noted that the CEOs with the largest increases in realized pay also led some of the strongest-performing companies, based on one- and three-year total shareholder return and gross margin. Matt also discussed how boards are increasingly considering broader CEO performance assessments, including leadership team development, alongside traditional financial and shareholder return metrics.
