Thought Capital

Scott Munn, the founder of Hugessen's Calgary office, has over 25 years of experience advising Compensation Committees across Canada. His expertise in executive compensation, performance evaluation, and governance makes him a sought-after consultant for clients, including publicly traded companies, private enterprises, and public sector organizations. He is a faculty member for the Institute of Corporate Directors and serves as the Co-Chair of the Calgary Chapter of the ICD, highlighting his commitment to corporate governance. Scott's mission is to balance talent retention and transparent pay practices, aligning compensation with measurable results through business strategy, finance, and market pay practices. He prioritizes collaboration and client understanding, fostering effective communication for optimal organizational solutions.

In the latest edition of our 'Insights in Action' video series, Scott emphasizes the importance of aligning pay with performance and understanding the unique aspects of each client's business. Scott highlights Hugessen’s role in providing in-depth information and facilitating communication among the client's team to make informed decisions. He also shares a case where they transformed a client's perspective by identifying different global peers, emphasizing the value of understanding differences and aligning pay accordingly.

Ciara co-leads the Board Effectiveness practice as a Principal at Hugessen. With over 15 years of experience as a trusted advisor to executives and boards, Ciara finds purpose in enabling better choices for future generations. She is inspired to foster an economically and socially prosperous Canada, where growth and success are built on an effective and principled foundation. She is known for her ability to facilitate interventions on pressing governance issues. Her purpose is to be a force for good in corporate boardrooms; to bring expertise, sound judgment, and an objective perspective to complex decisions and governance challenges.

In the latest edition of our 'Insights in Action' video series, Ciara emphasizes her role in enhancing board effectiveness and CEO succession. She highlights the importance of high-performance boards and being intentional about boardroom conditions.

David Crawford, an accomplished executive compensation consultant, boasts over 30 years of experience in the field. Joining Hugessen in 2012, he made significant contributions to the company. Prior to this, David held a senior leadership position in the executive compensation practice of Towers Watson.

In the latest edition of our 'Insights in Action' video series, David emphasizes the evolving role of finance in executive pay and the importance of bringing objectivity to the often tense discussions around compensation. Trust and communication are his key principles, striving to understand and support the perspectives of all stakeholders. His greatest reward is witnessing the success of the next generation in their roles.

Georges is an accomplished executive compensation consultant with a diverse portfolio of public and private clients throughout Canada. With a background in finance, including private equity, corporate development, and investment banking, he brings extensive expertise to the table. Georges has extensive experience as a board member in both corporate and NFP enterprises, and possesses a deep understanding of corporate strategy, governance, valuation, performance measurement, and executive compensation. As a founding partner at Hugessen Consulting since 2006, he advises a wide range of clients, including TSX60 enterprises, private companies, and commercial crown corporations, making him a sought-after faculty member in the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) Directors Education Program.

In the latest edition of our 'Insights in Action' video series, Georges talks about his journey from law to finance and ultimately to advising boards on executive compensation. He highlights the importance of being a good listener, articulating principles, and keeping solutions simple. Georges emphasizes the ultimate reward: when both the board and management recognize the value of the firm’s advice, leading to long-lasting success.

John, with a decade of experience, serves as a trusted advisor to Compensation Committees and senior management teams, offering tailored guidance on executive compensation, shareholder, and ESG matters. He has cultivated his expertise since joining Hugessen in 2013, working with public, private, and crown corporations spanning diverse sectors. John excels in designing innovative incentive programs, assessing financial performance, preparing for IPOs, and promoting ESG best practices. Beyond his consultancy role, he contributes to the Institute of Corporate Directors’ Directors Education Program. Previously, John gained valuable experience in the financial services sector at a Toronto-based research consulting firm.

In the latest edition of our 'Insights in Action' video series, John Skinner, a principal at Hugessen’s Toronto office, discusses the firm's vital role in advising compensation committees and their adaptability in addressing evolving trends, including stakeholder management.

Richard is an accomplished Executive Compensation Consultant and Board Advisor known for his expertise in aligning compensation strategies with organizational goals.

In the latest edition of our 'Insights in Action' video series Richard talks about his role as an executive compensation consultant, emphasizing a client-centric approach, the growth and impact of his work, and the challenges of balancing executive compensation in today's environment.

Kevin, a Manager at Hugessen, brings extensive experience advising companies in finance, real estate, and industrials. His background includes valuable insights gained from one of Canada’s largest independent asset management firm, contributing to strategic growth and industry expertise.

In the latest edition of our 'Insights in Action' video series, Kevin talks about his four-year tenure at Hugessen, where he specializes in helping companies optimize their compensation and governance programs.

Hugessen has completed its annual review of the 2023 TSX60 proxy circulars, and we are pleased to share key findings on executive pay levels, incentive design, Say-on-Pay results, and other governance topics.

In addition to delivering our TSX60 proxy takeaways, we have provided additional commentary on emerging topics such as the use of one-time CEO awards and the impacts of the current macroeconomic uncertainty on setting executive pay targets.

Please click above for the webinar recording, download the TSX60 slides here and the briefing document here.

As a Principal based in the Calgary office, Brian is a leading advisor on compensation and governance, driving excellence at Hugessen for over a decade. With extensive experience in aligning pay outcomes with strategic execution, Brian's expertise has been instrumental in guiding boards and management teams across Canada.

In the latest edition of our "Insight in Action" video series, Brian talks about how he bridges the gap between management and the board, to create optimal solutions in both pay quantum and design perspectives.

Part 4 of our series outlined different considerations for determining whether ESG metrics are more appropriate in a short-term or long-term incentive plan. This article focuses on the key considerations for incorporating metrics and determining the desired overall impact of ESG metrics on incentive plan outcomes.