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Event Overview

Agenda & Venue

Agenda


June 19


Noon - 8:00 PM
Summit Registration
Attendees may begin event registration check-in at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, June 19th. If attending an off-site excursion, registration will remain open until 8:00 PM for guest convenience.
6:45 AM - 2:30 PM
Golf at Vanderbilt Legends Club and Lunch


The Vanderbilt Legends Club includes many first-class amenities with a touch of southern refinement. Few golf courses in Tennessee have the championship tradition of Vanderbilt Legends Club. In its brief history, the club has been proud host to nearly two dozen major golf events.

18.3 Miles away from the JW Marriott Nashville. Transportation will be provide to/from the Vanderbilt Legends Club Golf Course and the JW Marriott Nashville. Timing of transportation subject to change.

You are permitted to bring your own clubs or may opt to rent clubs.

Sponsored by
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Lunch at Ole Red and Tour of Country Music Hall of Fame


Enjoy lunch and live music at Ole Red which gets its name from Blake Shelton’s breakout hit, “Ol’ Red”. Following lunch, guests will head over to the Country Music Hall of Fame for a unique songwriting experience and guided tour. The group will work closely with one of Nashville’s most accomplished songwriters as they guide you in composing original lyrics. End this session with a group recording of Nashville’s newest tune. Following your experience, tour the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum which has been home to the growing collection of 2.5 million artifacts, including on-of-a-kind recordings, films, instruments and more.

Transportation to/from will be provided.

Sponsored by
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Partner Showcase/Exhibit Hall Opening and Cocktail Reception
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Welcome Reception & Entertainment
Summit kicks off with the opening night reception on June 19th. Dinner, drinks and entertainment in a Nashville themed experience for all attendees.

June 20


7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Exhibit Hall Open
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Breakfast in Exhibit Hall
8:00 AM – 8:10 AM
Welcome Remarks – David Chun, Chief Executive Officer, Equilar, Inc.
8:10 AM – 9:10 AM
Keynote - Adam Bryant, Managing Director, Merryck (Former New York Times Journalist and Creator of "Corner Office" interview series)


Adam Bryant is managing director of Merryck & Co., a senior leadership development and executive mentoring firm. Prior to joining Merryck in 2017, Bryant worked for 30 years as a journalist, including 18 years as a reporter, editor and columnist at The New York Times. He interviewed more than 500 CEOs for “Corner Office,” a weekly series on leadership and management that he created in 2009. He continues to write frequently for The New York Times on business topics, including guides on how to build a successful team, hire effectively, run meetings and speak in public. He is a contributor to CNBC, conducting CEO interviews for his “Art of Leading” series on CNBC.com, and he recently co-authored an article for Strategy + Business magazine on “The Four X-Factors of Exceptional Leaders.” Bryant is the author of two books based on themes that emerged from his Corner Office series of interviews: “Quick and Nimble; Lessons from Leading CEOs on How to Create a Culture of Innovation,” and “The Corner Office; Indispensable and Unexpected Lessons from CEOs on How to Lead and Succeed.” Bryant is a frequent speaker at business schools, industry events and corporate off-sites.

In his Keynote address at Summit, Bryant will answer the question, “What are the most important drivers of high-performing teams and strong cultures?” He will present the six key patterns that emerged from his “Corner Office” conversations, using stories, insights and powerful quotes from proven leaders to bring the themes to life. All Summit attendees will receive a copy of Adam Bryant’s book, “Quick and Nimble: Lessons from Leading CEOs on How to Create a Culture of Innovation.”
9:10 AM – 10:00 AM
Perspectives of the CHRO
The Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) is responsible for developing and executing human resource strategy in support of the overall business plan and strategic direction of the organization. Just last year Forbes published an article, “Why The Chief Human Resources Officer Is The True Hand To The CEO”. Join us for a lively panel discussion with individuals who serve in the role of CHRO.
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM
Refreshments & Networking Break in Exhibit Hall
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM
Breakout Tracks (select one)
    Pay Equity: Be Legal, Do the Right Thing, and Drive Strategy

    Pay equity has quickly entered the mainstream as a matter of state law, national law, public disclosure, and compensation committees dialogue. But the very worst thing that could happen is for pay equity to become little more than another compliance box to check. Our session will discuss how you can build a pay equity testing and remediation process that unlocks value in your overall talent strategy, and how executive compensation can play a pivotal role in this process. We'll also cover board reporting and how to demonstrate you are staying ahead of the curve. We’ll cover best practices in designing a pay equity process, legal considerations around privilege, board reporting, and approaches toward remediating potential gaps. We will also cover how pay equity naturally segues into a broader topic of representation, and why this will become a mega strategic priority in the years ahead.

    Managing Corporate Excess: Contemporary Approaches to Compensation Clawbacks

    This panel will explore contemporary approaches to clawback policies and the various market forces shaping them. Although the vast majority of companies (more than 90% of the S&P 500) have clawback policies in place, most have taken a minimalist approach until final rules are issued by the SEC with respect to the Dodd-Frank clawback. Now nine years on from the passage of the Dodd-Frank Act (and four years since the SEC initially proposed clawback rules), the environment for executive compensation has continued to evolve. The last year has seen a number of high-profile scandals and C-suite departures for misconduct – in some cases without established mechanisms for the recoupment of pay. In the absence of regulator guidance, institutional investors and their proxy advisors have now begun to take a more proactive role in shaping the governance of pay. We’ll draw on the experiences of executive compensation and legal professionals that have adopted “leading edge” clawback policies to detail both the process and philosophies underlying those policies.

    Building Shareholder-Focused Incentive Plans for a New Generation of Investor

    Financial metrics have been the bread and butter of our pay-for-performance culture for more than 20 years. However, a new era is dawning and performance is no longer defined solely by the company’s bottom line. Investors and the public at large are increasingly pressuring organizations to expand performance criteria beyond traditional financial yardsticks and increase the focus on (and investment in) non-financial drivers of long-term value creation.Coincidently, the gutting of 162(m) in recent tax law changes has given companies new freedom to structure compensation programs with an eye on non-financial metrics. The question for each individual entity is what type of non-financial metrics best align with their long-term shareholder—and by extension stakeholders—interests. The answer is likely to be some combination of strategic, operational, human capital, and sustainability-based goals.This panel will explore the growing importance of incorporating non-financial metrics into short-and long-term incentive programs from both a company and shareholder perspective. We will directly hear the investor perspective on why, regardless of your industry, monitoring and evaluating sustainability is critical to long-term corporate viability and should not be viewed as just “good PR.” We will also explore the challenges associated selecting the appropriate metrics, determining objective evaluation protocols, and communicating this new approach.
11:20 AM – 12:20 PM
Breakout Tracks (select one)
Are you effectively managing the complexities of your LTIP?

Over the past twenty years, long-term incentive (LTI) designs have evolved from the glory days of stock options in the late 90's to the current state of portfolio LTI programs. Today, performance shares are the predominant LTI vehicle. Shareholder advisory firms and institutional investors encourage companies to use performance shares because they are viewed as implicitly more performance-based than stock options or restricted stock units. Unfortunately, performance share designs are often confusing to participants due to overlapping performance cycles, multiple performance measures, frequent design changes and inadequate communication. This could be a reasonable trade-off if performance share designs led to a stronger pay for performance relationship or better alignment with shareholder interests. However, based on analysis that we have conducted, it is not clear that the performance goals established under performance share designs are more rigorous than the absolute stock price increase goals implicit in a grant of stock options or lead to a better alignment of executive and shareholder outcomes. We think it is worth reconsidering the relative merits of performance shares and stock options. In our discussion, we will assess the relative merits of each of the vehicles and identify specific circumstances where greater use of stock options may provide more effective incentives than performance shares. We will also discuss what we think makes for an effective performance share design.

Delivering the Right Value Proposition of Equity Compensation in Total Rewards

Equity is an vital portion of your executive compensation philosophy. This session explores how you can implement the versatility of equity compensation that creates value for your executives and beyond. It is important to understand what equity compensation means to members of your organization and how it can be a key factor in retention, motivation and engagement. Learn ways to deliver the total rewards concept to each of your employees and how their unique picture applies to them.

Intense Scrutiny of CIC Arrangements: Importance of Attention to Detail

We’ll explore current trends in change in control (CIC) benefits, including severance & equity awards from Alvarez & Marsal and Equilar’s 2017/18 Executive CIC Report. With data from 200 companies, we’ll examine market norms & industry differences. After a primer on the Golden Parachute Rules (Section 280G), we’ll dive into the practical approaches for tackling M&A compensation issues.
12:20 PM – 1:50 PM
Fidelity Power Lunch & Keynote Speaker


Keynote speaker, Jon Slote, presents: "What’s Different Now?"

Jon Slote explores the forces that are most changing our world today, shares insights about the scope and speed of these changes, and shows examples of how Fidelity’s Center for Applied Technology is responding with technology and ideas for the future.

Jon Slote is a Vice President within the Fidelity Center For Applied Technology (FCAT), an organization dedicated to catalyzing innovation throughout Fidelity Investments. In this role, Mr. Slote is responsible for helping customers and visitors understand how FCAT works, reviewing technology trends Fidelity is closely watching and experimenting with, and demonstrating the next generation of digital concepts and products.

Mr. Slote’s career diverged quickly after graduating from architecture school. Prior to joining Fidelity in 2003, Mr. Slote directed new product development, engineering, and quality management functions in industries such as manufacturing, construction, health care, and call centers for over 25 years. He has presented at organizations including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Princeton University, the University of California, and the International Solar Energy Society.
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Breakout Tracks (select one)
Proxy Season 2020: How Regulatory Reforms & Proxy Advisory Firm Policies are Changing the Landscape

This panel will discuss key lessons learned from the 2019 proxy season, including trends in bonus plan design two years after the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Our panelists will address recent trends in structuring equity grants in light of market fluctuations, offer practical guidance on how to design programs and agreements to minimize the risk of a "no" vote on say on pay, and advise on how to avoid litigation relating to your compensation programs. Topics will include: • Equity Plans, Equity Awards and the Shareholder Approval Process • Problematic Pay Practices • Clawbacks and Forfeiture Provisions for Bonus Programs • Provisions to Protect the Company in Equity and Other Compensation Disputes • Recent Changes in the Law that Impact "Standard" Employment Provisions, including Confidentiality, Cooperation, and Non-Disparagement Provisions • Understanding Your Shareholder Base.

10b5-1 Plans and Insider Trading Policies - Hot Topics & Current Trends

The tension between the liquidity and wealth diversification demands of insiders who own company stock and the desire of companies to manage insider trading risks and minimize the potential market disruption from insider sales, requires careful balancing of the objectives of insiders and companies. The design of insider trading policies, including the policies that apply to 10b5-1 trading plans continue to be an area of focus for companies and their boards. This panel will review the hot topics and trends in the area, including: • Current thinking about the design of insider trading policies, esp. in light of recent high-profile situations where these policies have been scrutinized • Current approaches to key plan design issues, such as cooling-off periods, terminations and amendments and the mandatory use of plans; • Potential legislative and regulatory developments in this area; • Policy considerations such as the extent of company and board oversight of plans and the disclosure of this oversight; and • Current disclosure practices, including the prevalence of the public disclosure of insider’s 10b5-1 plans as well as the details of this disclosure. This discussion will incorporate the results of the following two recent ground-breaking surveys: • The 2018 10b5-1 Plan Practices and Policies Survey (of NASPP members) conducted by Morgan Stanley, Shearman & Sterling, and the NASPP, which builds upon prior 10b5-1 surveys conducted by these parties; and • The 2018 10b5-1 Disclosure Study of the S&P 500 conducted by Morgan Stanley, Shearman & Sterling and The Washington Service , the first-ever comprehensive survey of 10b5-1 plan disclosure practices.

This or That? Offering Employees a Choice in Equity Plans

Who doesn't love a choice? Would you go to a restaurant with only one menu item? Shop at a store with only one pair of pants? Why should executive compensation plans be any different? Empowering executives to select the makeup of their long-term incentive plans can be a great idea. Join this panel to explore the growing trend of offering choice, including the mechanics of allowing choice, meeting the need for increased education and modeling tools, and mitigating the accompanying risks. When done right, employee choice plans can provide a new twist on an old favorite. But, choice can also be risky. The panel will also explore the potential pitfalls of choice plans to help you make an informed decision. We will share details of their Choice plans, as well as what they wish they knew when the plan launched! A good understanding of the pros and cons will help you decide if these plans are right for your company, and if so, how to be successful with your rollout.
3:00 PM – 3:20 PM
Refreshments & Networking Break in Exhibit Hall
3:20 PM – 4:10 PM
Compensation Committee Perspectives
As shareholders and proxy advisors become more vocal and involved in executive pay decisions, boards are taking greater care in designing executive compensation packages, especially when it comes to CEO pay. This increased scrutiny has caused companies to become more transparent in the decision making process behind executive pay decisions, increasing the importance of the role of the compensation committee. Join us for a dynamic panel discussion with individuals who serve as comp committee members.
4:15 PM – 5:05 PM
Future Perspectives - Executive Compensation in 2020
A distinguished panel will look at key takeaways from the 2019 proxy season and provide valuable guidance and insight into how companies should prepare for 2020.
5:05 PM – 5:15 PM
Closing Remarks
5:15 PM – 6:30 PM
Cocktail Reception in the Exhibit Hall
Reception and networking until 6:30pm (Dinner on own).

June 21


7:00 AM – 8:00 AM
Breakfast in Exhibit Hall
8:00 AM – 8:10 AM
Morning Remarks
8:10 AM – 9:00 AM
Shareholder Engagement from the Investor Perspective
As institutional investors have increased their share of equity investments, there has been a growing trend toward increased active engagement between investors and issuers. Now more than ever before companies are participating in year-round efforts to engage with their institutional investors. Each campaign is unique and each investor has their own priorities and goals for engagement. Join us for a panel discussion to hear directly from investors themselves about current engagement efforts and what’s to come in 2020.
9:15 AM – 12:00 PM
Industry Roundtables and Product Training
Attendees can choose between a product training session with Equilar product experts or an industry-specific peer group discussion led by corporate governance thought leaders. Mid-way through there will be a twenty minute refreshment break.
10:30 AM - 10:50 AM
Refreshment Break in Exhibit Hall
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Lunch
Lunch in the foyer outside the Exhibit Hall.

Venue

JW Marriott Nashville


201 8th Ave S
Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: (615) 291-8600
JW Marriott Nashville

Step into modern luxury at JW Marriott Nashville; Music City’s first luxury hotel, located downtown, directly across from Music City Center, and 2 blocks from the famous “Honky Tonk Highway” on Lower Broadway. Redefining the skyline, this sparkling 33-story glass tower offers stunning skyline views from all 533 guest rooms and suites.

A block of rooms has been reserved for Summit attendees. Registrants can make a room reservation through the registration portal.


Nashville’s downtown area features a diverse assortment of entertainment, dining, cultural and architectural attractions.

The New York Times: 36 Hours in Nashville
Serious Eats: Where to Eat and Drink in Nashville
Nashville: Nightlife
Nashville: Best Cocktail Bars


Event Highlights

Thank you to everyone who attended the Equilar Executive Compensation Summit in Nashville. Please download the event highlights below, and we look forward to seeing you at the 11th Annual Equilar Executive Compensation Summit in San Diego.

Executive Compensation Summit Highlights
and Key Takeaways


Download

2019 Summit Photo Gallery


10th Annual Equilar Executive Compensation Summit

Equilar is thrilled to host its 10th annual Summit this year. Summit brings together 400+ executive compensation and corporate governance professionals for a three-day conference.

The Equilar Summit is the largest conference dedicated to executive compensation, attracting the brightest visionaries in the field to explore the complex, interrelated issues around Say on Pay, pay for performance, shareholder engagement, and executive pay regulations. This year, we’re particularly excited to host Summit in Nashville, Tennessee.

Nashville, home of the famous Ryman Auditorium (known as the “Mother Church of Country Music”), the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Grand Ole Opry House, is a perfect location for our celebratory 10th anniversary. Summit attendees will experience the best of Nashville entertainment, cuisine, and culture.

Cost of Attendance

Equilar Corporate Client Rate - $1,795 | Standard Registration Rate - $3,590

Discounted rates may apply with valid promo codes.

View highlights from the June 2018 Executive Compensation Summit in San Francisco.

Keynote Speaker

Adam Bryant, Managing Director, Merryck & Co., Former New York Times Journalist and Creator of "Corner Office” interview series
Adam Bryant is managing director of Merryck & Co., a senior leadership development and executive mentoring firm. Prior to joining Merryck in 2017, Bryant worked for 30 years as a journalist, including 18 years as a reporter, editor and columnist at The New York Times. He interviewed more than 500 CEOs for “Corner Office,” a weekly series on leadership and management that he created in 2009. Each Summit attendee will receive a complimentary copy of his best selling book Quick & Nimble.

Speakers


Donna Anderson

Head of Corporate Governance
T.Rowe Price
Yonat Assayag

Partner
ClearBridge Compensation Group
Robert Barbetti

Global Head of Executive Compensation & Benefits
JP Morgan
Irv Becker

Vice Chairman, Executive Pay & Governance
Korn Ferry
Cheryl Bierwagen

VP, Executive Compensation
NIKE
Lisa Bisaccia

EVP, CHRO
CVS Health
Glenn Booraem

Investment Stewardship Officer
Vanguard
Heather Bristol

HR Equity Compensation Analyst
3M
Michelle Carpenter

Partner
Latham & Watkins
Rob Casburn

Senior Director, Compensation & Benefits Practice
Alvarez & Marsal
Emily Cervino

Head of Industry Relationships and Thought Leadership
Fidelity Investments
Don Delves

North American Practice Leader, Executive Compensation
Willis Towers Watson
Susan O'Donnell

Partner
Meridian Compensation Partners
Mark Emanuel

Managing Director
Semler Brossy
Stephen Giove

Partner
Shearman & Sterling
Melissa Goodman

Partner
Haynes & Boone
Barbara Gunnufson

Consulting Manager
E*TRADE
Alan Haguewood

Chief Counsel
International Paper
Harriet Harty

Former Chief Human Resource Officer
Allstate Insurance Company
Michael Hayes

Leader, Executive Compensation
Brighthouse Financial
Mark Hickman

VP Compensation
Hospital Corporation of America
Eric Hosken

Partner
Compensation Advisory Partners
Ani Huang

President
Center On Executive Compensation
J.D. Ivy

Managing Director, Compensation & Benefits Practice
Alvarez & Marsal
Jacob Jenkelowitz

Deputy Corporate Secretary and Corporate Counsel
Brighthouse Financial
TK Kerstetter

CEO
Boardroom Resources
Arthur Kohn

Partner
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
Lisa Kranc

Compensation Committee member
Stage Stores
Current Board and former Compensation Committee member
Truck Hero, Inc.
Christina Maguire

Managing Director, Proxy Voting & Governance Research
BNY Mellon
Takis Makridis

President & CEO
Equity Methods
Cara McDaniel

EVP, Head of HR & Talent Strategy
Texas Capital Bank
Russell Miller

Founder & CEO
ClearBridge Compensation Group
Kathryn Neel

Managing Director
Semler Brossy
David Outlaw

Director, Valuation & HR Advisory Services
Equity Methods
Gregg Passin

North America Executive Rewards Practice Leader
Mercer
Michael Perloff

Global Head of Executive Compensation
Goldman Sachs
Leanne Reagan

Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits Shareholder
Greenberg Traurig
Linda Rebrovick

Board Member
HealthStream, Guidehouse, Consensus Point
David Reimer

CEO
Merryck & Co.
Brennan Rittenhouse

Managing Director, Compensation & Benefits
Alvarez & Marsal
Ron Schneider

Director, Corporate Governance Services
DFIN
Aalap Shah

Managing Director
Pearl Meyer
Joshua Shek

Executive Director
Morgan Stanley
Jon Slote

VP, Center for Applied Technology
Fidelity Investments
Martha Steinman

Partner
Hogan Lovells
Kurt Thomas

SVP, CHRO
Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation
Dennis Varghese

Sr. Manager, Executive Compensation Services
Lyondell Chemical Company
Brooke Westall

Partner
VP Human Resources
Newfield Exploration Company
Susan Wetzel

Partner
Chair of Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice Groups
Haynes & Boone
Chris Wightman

Partner
PJT Camberview
Brit Wittman

General Manager, Executive Compensation
Chevron

More Speakers To Be Announced Soon


Why Attend

Expert advice and solutions. Gain valuable insights from industry experts, experienced board members and HR executives to objectively evaluate executive and board compensation practices. Learn about the latest strategies being used to ensure constructive interaction with key shareholders and advisors.

Collaborative education. Engage with peers through in-depth, discussion-based sessions, and exchange business challenges, ideas and practical solutions to reach your business goals.

A good time. We’re preparing for a celebration worthy of being our 10th annual Summit. That means that in-between all the learning you’re sure to have some fun too - and Nashville is the perfect venue!



Summit 2018
Highlights


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