Several high-profile activist campaigns over the last few years have kept shareholder activism top of mind for board members. Individual activist investors and campaigns vary in nature — from constructive, low-profile dialogue to less cooperative and more combative approaches. Understanding how these influential external groups view executive compensation can help boards rethink the narrative around executive pay in the event of future activist involvement. While compensation design and outcomes are generally not the primary driver of activist campaigns, executive pay often serves as a means for activist shareholders to highlight perceived mismanagement or misalignment with shareholder interests in key areas. READ MORE