Executive remuneration, and the principles of the Financial Stability Forum of 2009

Abstract

PurposeAs a consequence of the global financial crisis and widespread disquiet over executive bonuses and other remuneration, in April 2009 the Financial Stability Forum enunciated principles for sound compensation as part of an effort to ensure the effective governance of compensation. The core problem this article seeks to address is the measurement of the contribution of corporate executives to the intrinsic value of the firm as part of an initial step in the process of implementing the Financial Stability Forum's principles. Unless the contribution of corporate executives can be measured in a manner that satisfies the requirements of sound research methodology, rigorous epistemology, and statutory requirements, it is doubtful whether these principles can be operationalized. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to show how the contribution of corporate executives can be estimated from audited financial statements. From the core problem and purpose of this article, its title is drawn.Design/methodology/approachRelevant sections of the report of the Financial Stability Forum 2009, the UK Corporate Governance Code of 2010, and the UK Companies Act of 2006, in conjunction with important reviews such as the Turner Review of 2009 and the Walker Review of 2009 were studied. Data inputs from audited financial statements were applied to appropriate well‐established non‐controversial valuation equations that are based on “first‐principles” of corporate finance, and the contribution of corporate executives to the intrinsic value of the firm was estimated in order to illustrate the validity of this approach.FindingsThe paper shows that contribution to the intrinsic value of the firm made by corporate executives can be measured in a non‐controversial and transparent way, and once done, can form the basis for quantifying executive remuneration on the basis of valued‐added. No attempt is made to address the fractional share of value‐added that should be placed in a bonus‐pool.Originality/valueFrom an extensive survey of publicly available literature, there is no evidence to suggest that the measurement of the contribution of corporate executives to the intrinsic value of the firm, as part of an initial step in the process of implementing the principles of the Financial Stability Forum 2009, has yet been published.