How are top companies navigating today’s complex governance landscape?
Annual report
Corporate Governance & Executive Compensation Survey 2024
What’s in this report from A&O Shearman:
This comprehensive analysis examines corporate governance practices and executive compensation trends among the 100 largest U.S. public companies and 30 major foreign private issuers. Based on research and company disclosures through June 2024, the report reveals key developments that boards and management teams need to understand.
The survey finds boards are actively evolving their governance approach for emerging challenges. For example, 88 of the top 100 companies now have directors with cybersecurity experience, up from 70 in 2023. On ESG matters, 98 companies issued corporate sustainability reports, with 76 setting net-zero emissions targets. Board diversity continues to advance, with women holding 34% of board seats at the top 100 companies and 83 companies having boards composed of 30% or more women directors.
Other insights include analysis of the declining support for environmental and social shareholder proposals despite maintained corporate commitments, detailed examination of generative AI governance frameworks and comprehensive data on executive compensation practices from the 2024 proxy season. The report also explores the U.K.’s transformative listing regime changes and their implications for corporate governance globally.