Negotiating a Custom CEO or C-level Executive Compensation Package

On November 5, 2020, CEOWorld magazine published an article I wrote on “Negotiating a Custom CEO or C-level Executive Compensation Package” . 

This new article is designed for  CEOs, C-level and senior executives, who are negotiating new job offers where the metrics of a routine Gartner or Mercer compensation survey are just not appropriate for that particular CEO or C-level executive compensation package, and the executive employment advisor is called upon to suggest, design and then lead the negotiations for a custom executive compensation package.

My article first suggests three situations well suited to justify development and deployment of a custom executive compensation package:

• Start-up and early stage company CEOs,
• Turnaround CEO situation, and
• Special needs executive recruitment – where a CEO or C-level executive has special attributes that fill a critical need for the company. 

My article then moves on to discuss that the custom package must not only make up for your loss of pay and benefits to leave your current employer, but even more so, to make up for three further critical intangibles as well, and hence – what should be included on your custom executive compensation package? And how much equity compensation should you ask for? 

The article then concludes with my suggestions for how the executive can achieve company “Buy-in” – how do you sell the custom CEO or C-level executive compensation package to an often skeptical employer?  This last part shares three of my best “sales” techniques:

• You (employer) want and need an “A” team player, this custom package will not only secure the services of a true A player but his or her successful recruitment  will help you to attract still more A team players to the company.
• You want alignment and this custom package greatly magnifies the alignment of this key executive hire with the growth goals of the company, and
• Success for my executive, even with this full custom package, means vastly greater success to the company’s stockholders, often 10x, 15x and even 20x pay back return for the company’s stockholders, if the CEO or C-level executive succeeds in his or her mission, and costs little or nothing if he or she does not succeed.

To see my full CEOWorld magazine. article, go to LINK:

https://ceoworld.biz/2020/11/05/negotiating-a-custom-ceo-or-c-level-executive-compensation-package/

 Or on my website at https://www.executiveemploymentattorney.com/negotiating-a-custom-ceo-or-c-level-executive-compensation-package/

This was my 31st article published in CEOWORLD over the last five years.  Previously, the editor advised that I can use “Featured in the CEOWOLRD magazine” and the CEOWORLD “Logo” on my website and add CEOWORLD magazine in my LinkedIn profile’s “Experience Section” as an “Opinion Columnist.” and authority in the field.  See https://ceoworld.biz/author/robert-adelson/

With more than 12.4+ million-page views, CEOWORLD magazine is the world’s leading business magazine written strictly for CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, senior management executives, business leaders, and high net worth individuals worldwide.

It is my hope that this article will be of benefit to CEOs, C-level and senior executives who are considering job offers in situations where a custom executive compensation package is appropriate.  Feel free to tweet or share this article. If you or any colleague of yours has a need in this area, please do reach out to me at rob@attorneyadelson.com.

Executive Compensation in a Pre-IPO Company

On October 1, 2019, CEOWorld magazine published an article I wrote on “Executive Compensation in a Pre-IPO Company.”   The magazine advised me that I can use “Featured in the CEOWORLD magazine” and the CEOWORLD “Logo” on my website.

This was my 24th article published in CEOWORLD. Earlier this year, the editor advised that I can add CEOWORLD magazine in my LinkedIn profile’s “Experience Section” as an “Opinion Columnist.” and authority in the field.  

This article, my most recent, published October 1, is designed for C-level and senior executives in private companies that are planning for or soon contemplate an initial public offering.  The article discusses executive compensation in public companies, then executive compensation in private companies and the transition from a private company to a public company.
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The article offers further tips to the executive facing and negotiating that transition including

• What should you do to protect your interests?
• How much should you be paid?
• How do you structure your equity compensation as the value of the stock increases?
•  What other equity-related terms to seek before the IPO?

The article concludes with discussion of issues to consider post-IPO.

To see my full CEOWorld magazine. article, go to LINK:
https://ceoworld.biz/2019/10/01/executive-compensation-in-a-pre-ipo-company/
Or on my website at https://www.executiveemploymentattorney.com/executive-compensation-in-a-pre-ipo-company/

With more than 12.4+ million-page views, CEOWORLD magazine is the world’s leading business magazine written strictly for CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, senior management executives, business leaders, and high net worth individuals worldwide.
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It is my hope that this article will be helpful to CEOs, COOs, CMOs, other C-Level and senior executives in pre-IPO companies may benefit from this article. If you or any colleague of yours has a need in this area, please do reach out to me at radelson@engelschultz.com.

The “golden keys” that unlock “golden handcuffs”

Executive employment agreements and equity arrangements are the “golden keys” that unlock “golden handcuffs”. Signing bonuses serve as the key to open the door to hiring. Vesting options, bonuses and other “golden handcuff” benefits make executives more reluctant to leave their current position for a new one. However, signing bonuses are often used as a tool of persuasion – urging an executive to sign with a new company. Signing bonuses are crucial when accompanying a job offer that has a lower salary than an executive wants.

CEO, Maria Leone* sought out the counsel of Attorney Robert Adelson who helped her negotiate an increased signing bonus with a new firm that expressed interest in hiring her. Maria Leone was currently working as a CEO at a NY ad agency where she made a comfortable salary with foreseeable bonuses and vesting options, however when a young, rising agency (we will call Marketing X*) expressed interest with a higher salary Maria grew interested. Since the Marketing X was still young, and the salary the company was offering was not substantially higher Maria wanted to explore her options and negotiate her executive contract terms.

Attorney Adelson negotiated the executive’s employment agreement as well as her equity arrangements, convincing Marketing X to set up a package with stock and options to reward Maria’s loyalty later down the road. Attorney Adelson also negotiated a substantial increase in the signing bonus and an increased salary as well. The signing bonuses and equity arrangements that Marketing X arranged from Maria Leone helped make her particular transition between companies smooth and lucrative, making Maria whole for what she lost when leaving her current position.

Robert Adelson was successful with this representative case because he applied his over 30 years experience, care and time to help Maria Leone achieve a more desirable position. As a Boston executive employment attorney, with clients across the country, Attorney Adelson has helped many executives negotiate signing bonuses and employment agreements. This representative case highlights the success that Attorney Adelson’s executive compensation negotiations led to for CEO Maria Leone.

*All dates, client’s names and companies have been altered to keep confidentiality.

Structuring Bonuses in Your CEO Compensation for Maximum Benefit

Last Tuesday, on May 29, 2018, CEOWorld magazine published an article I wrote on  “Structuring Bonuses in Your CEO Compensation for Maximum Benefit.”  The magazine advised me that I can use “Featured in the CEOWORLD magazine” and the CEOWORLD “Logo” on my website.

This article was designed for CEOs and other C-Suite, VPs or other senior executives who when negotiating a new job offer or employment contract need to give equal and perhaps greater focus on the structure and terms of bonus as they do to base salary compensation.

My article discusses five (5) key bonus structures:

• Sign-on bonus to make the executive whole for items given up,
• Sign-on bonus to compensate for the risks in changing companies,
• Guaranteed bonus,
• Performance bonus based on company achievement,
• Performance bonus based on individual achievement.

The article also suggests other important issues in the determination, calculation and payout of the bonus.

To see my full CEOWorld magazine. article, go to LINK:  http://ceoworld.biz/2018/05/29/structuring-bonuses-in-your-ceo-compensation-for-maximum-benefit/

Or on my website at https://www.executiveemploymentattorney.com/structuring-bonuses-in-your-ceo-compensation-for-maximum-benefit/

With more than 12.4+ million page views, CEOWORLD magazine is the world’s leading business magazine written strictly for CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, senior management executives, business leaders, and high net worth individuals worldwide.

It is my hope that this article will be helpful to CEOs and other senior executives who are considering or re-visiting the executive compensation piece of a job offer or employment contract and need to focus on bonus structure and terms every bit as much as base salary. If you or any colleague of yours has a need in this area, please do reach out to me at radelson@engelschultz.com.

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I have represented CEOs and senior executives working for companies in Massachusetts, elsewhere in New England and across the country, and I am available to answer all of your important questions. Contact me, your attorney for executive employment agreements at radelson@engelschultz.com or call 617-875-8665.

How to Renegotiate Your CEO Employment Contract When You Have Achieved Success

Last Thursday, on February 1, 2018, CEOWorld magazine published an article I wrote on  “How to Renegotiate Your CEO Employment Contract When You Have Achieved Success.”

This article was designed for CEOs and other C-Suite, VPs or other senior executives who have achieved a level of success and seek a greater share of the benefits his or her leadership has brought to the company, as well as a refresh of the level of incentives as he or she takes the company to the next level.

My article discusses why the Board would agree to sweeten the package for the CEO (or other senior executive), including these reasons:

• Fear of losing a successful executive,
• Costs of recruiting a replacement,
• Disruption to a successful team,
• Uncertainty of how a successor would work out,
• Loss of momentum as the company goes through a new transition, and
• Loss of promise of where the CEO might take the company if allowed to build on his or her success.

The article then suggests key items to seek in negotiations, and offers suggestions on negotiation strategy to improve chances for a successful outcome.

Among the strategies suggested are to plan and develop a back-up to enhance your bargaining position and also for possible use if negotiations don’t succeed, and finally use of an “ace in the hole” to achieve success.

To see my full CEOWorld magazine. article, go to LINK:  http://ceoworld.biz/2018/02/01/how-to-renegotiate-your-ceo-employment-contract-when-you-have-achieved-success/

or my website at https://www.executiveemploymentattorney.com/articles-section/how-to-renegotiate-your-ceo-employment-contract-when-you-have-achieved-success/

With more than 12.4+ million page views, CEOWORLD magazine is the world’s leading business magazine written strictly for CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, senior management executives, business leaders, and high net worth individuals worldwide.

It is my hope that this article will be helpful to CEOs and other senior executives who have achieved a level of success on the job and deserve and would like to seek a share of the benefits their success has conferred to owners and shareholders and refresh of incentives as they seek to take the company to the next level.   If you or any colleague of yours has a need for advice in this area, please do reach out to me, executive employment lawyer, Robert Adelson, Esq. at radelson@engelschultz.com.