SETTING EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The Role of the Compensation, Culture and Talent Committee. The Compensation, Culture and Talent Committee, consisting entirely of independent directors, establishes our compensation philosophy and practices and develops, reviews and approves the compensation of the Company’s executive officers.
The Compensation, Culture and Talent Committee’s executive compensation determinations are the result of the Compensation, Culture and Talent Committee’s business judgment, which is informed by the experience of its members and input provided by its independent compensation consultant, our CEO (other than with respect to her own compensation), other members of management and shareholders.
Each year, the Compensation, Culture and Talent Committee conducts an evaluation of the Company's executive compensation program to determine any appropriate changes. In making this determination, the Compensation, Culture and Talent Committee may consult with its independent compensation consultant and management, as described below; however, the Compensation, Culture and Talent Committee makes final decisions regarding the compensation paid to our named executive officers based on its own judgment.
In determining whether to make changes to our executive compensation program, the Compensation, Culture and Talent Committee may consider a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the size, scope and performance of our business, evolving compensation trends, financial goals, shareholders’ interests and peer comparisons as described below.
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Key Actions of Compensation, Culture and Talent Committee |
Annual review of executive officers' performance |
Establishes base salaries, annual cash awards and equity awards for all executive officers other than the CEO, unless approved by the independent directors acting as a committee |
Recommends base salary, annual cash awards and equity awards for the CEO |
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Key Actions of Independent Directors |
Annual review of CEO performance |
Considers recommendations of the Compensation, Culture and Talent Committee and approves base salary, annual cash awards and equity awards for the CEO |
The Role of the Compensation Consultant. The Compensation, Culture and Talent Committee selects and retains the services of its own independent compensation consultant and annually reviews the performance of the consultant. As part of the review process, the Compensation, Culture and Talent Committee considers the independence of the consultant in accordance with SEC and NYSE rules.
During 2025, the Compensation, Culture and Talent Committee’s independent compensation consultant, FW Cook, provided no services to the Company other than services for the Compensation, Culture and Talent Committee, and worked with the Company’s management, as directed by the Compensation, Culture and Talent Committee, only on matters for which the committee is responsible.
At the Compensation, Culture and Talent Committee’s request, FW Cook regularly attends committee meetings. FW Cook also communicates with the Compensation, Culture and Talent Committee or the Chair of the Compensation, Culture and Talent Committee outside committee meetings regarding matters related to the committee’s responsibilities. FW Cook prepares a comprehensive compensation risk assessment study to evaluate whether the Company's compensation programs are likely to create a material risk for the Company.
In 2025, the Compensation, Culture and Talent Committee generally sought input from FW Cook on a range of external market factors related to the Company's compensation programs, CEO pay, and other evolving compensation trends, including regulatory developments and best practices, appropriate market reference points, and market compensation data. FW Cook reported on and provided market compensation data and trends regarding director compensation