Say-on-Pay Support Stays Steady and Other Lessons from the 2025 Proxy Season—IR Impact

The 2025 proxy season confirmed several steady trends in executive compensation, while also revealing shifts boards will need to navigate in the years ahead. Say-on-Pay (SOP) support held strong across the Russell 3000, but concerns around special awards, mega-grants, and pay-for-performance alignment continued to drive the few failed votes. At the same time, perks like air travel and security costs are drawing sharper investor and regulatory scrutiny, and new SEC rules are reshaping how companies engage with shareholders.

According to Farient Advisors’ research featured in IR Impact (formerly known as IR Magazine), the use of DE&I metrics in executive compensation has declined sharply—from 57% of S&P 500 companies in 2023 to just 22% in 2025. This change underscores how political, legal, and shareholder pressures are reshaping incentive design. Farient continues to advise boards on how to respond to evolving investor expectations with transparent disclosure, thoughtful pay design, and proactive shareholder engagement.

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About Farient Advisors 

Farient Advisors LLC is an independent premier executive compensation, performance, and corporate governance consultancy. Farient provides a full array of services, linking business strategy to compensation through a tailored, analytically rigorous, and collaborative approach. Farient has locations in Los Angeles, New York, and London and works with clients globally through its partnership in the Global Governance and Executive Compensation (GECN) Group. Farient is a certified diverse company and is recognized by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council.