Long a lightning rod for shareholders and regulators, executive compensation has sparked even more controversy in recent years due to economic and market turmoil. From increasing government scrutiny and regulation, to say-on-pay shareholder votes and the growing role of proxy advisory firms, there are more voices in the mix than ever before.

In this climate, companies are under unprecedented pressure to get it right. They are looking to strengthen their governance processes to ensure fair and defensible decisions, build a strong relationship between pay and performance, and balance the competing demands of many constituents. Additionally, companies need to ensure that their programs are competitive and aligned with their talent management and succession planning programs.