Webinar: The Role of Boards in Overseeing Culture

Reanna Dorscher, Ciara Wakita , Melissa Sonberg , Judith Athaide  | December 2023

Boards across Canada understand that organizational culture is a key role in driving performance. As a result, culture is appearing more frequently on-board agendas. However, many boards are grappling with how to truly understand culture, how to oversee it from the boardroom, and how to incentivize culture change that drives performance

2023 Proxy Review of the TSX Composite: Shifting From Board Assessment To Board Development

Shareholders expect Board’s to self-reflect, take actions for improvement, and report transparently on their governance practices. The largest companies, perhaps subject to heightened scrutiny, are at the forefront of adopting and exemplifying these practices. Yet, the evolution in Board Effectiveness practices should not solely be motivated by shareholder expectations; rather, it should stem from the intrinsic motivation of Boards to excel and enhance the value they provide. 

What is Compensation Philosophy?

Brian Lees  | November 2023

In today's fast-paced business world, a well-defined Compensation Philosophy is the cornerstone of any successful talent management program.

2023 Proxy Season Insights: TSX60 Shareholder Proposals

Miles Fazzalari , Solomon Coupal  | October 2023

As part of our annual review of the 2023 TSX60 issuer proxy circulars, we have analyzed the shareholder proposals submitted to these issuers to better understand how shareholder expectations / concerns have evolved over the years.

Let's stop calling them "Board Evaluations"

Ciara Wakita, Peter Stephenson  | September 2023

Board evaluations are not evaluations at all, or at least they shouldn’t feel like one.

ESG in Compensation: Learnings from the 2023 Proxy Season

Emily Parsons, Julia Hunt  | September 2023

Every year, Hugessen Consulting conducts a review of the proxy circulars filed by the constituents of the S&P / TSX60 Index to report on trends in executive compensation and related governance practices among Canada’s largest and most influential companies. This article summarizes our findings related to ESG metrics in these companies’ executive compensation programs in respect of fiscal 2022.

ESG IN COMPENSATION SERIES 6 OF 6: Target Setting: Considerations For ESG Metrics

Kevin Zhu, Breanna Schollaardt  | August 2023

Part 5 of our series outlined how to effectively weigh considerations when determining the importance of metrics in incentive programs This article focuses on the key considerations for calibrating and setting targets when incorporating ESG metrics into incentive plans.

Webinar: Beyond 2023 Proxy Season Insights

Michelle Tan, Scott Munn  | July 2023

Hugessen hosted a webinar in connection with the ICD in which we delved into the key observations and learnings from the 2022 pay disclosure while offering invaluable insights into the emerging issues and topics shaping the governance landscape in the coming months.

Are you ‘Overboarded’?

Ciara Wakita, Peter Stephenson  | July 2023

Despite plenty of guidance about how many boards are too many, the answer comes down to personal performance.
Proxy advisory firms suggest directors limit themselves to a maximum of five boards. The key factor, however, is whether each member’s personal contribution is enough to earn them a seat at the table.

Meet Michelle Tan

Michelle Tan  | July 2023

Michelle is a Partner and has over 20 years of experience in executive compensation and corporate governance. She consults with a variety of public and private clients across Canada and the U.S. covering a broad range of industries. She offers a deep understanding of the shareholder perspectives on pay and governance issues.

In the latest edition of our 'Insights in Action' video series, Michelle talks about her role at Hugessen Consulting, focusing on bridging the gap between boards of directors and senior management teams regarding executive compensation. She emphasizes the importance of understanding shareholder perspectives and tailoring solutions to diverse client needs.