Navigating the Future of Executive Pay | Farient Briefings IN FULL
October 9, 2025
Navigating the Future of Executive Pay:
Insights from Robin A. Ferracone and Lakecia Gunter
The complexity of business is matched by the intricacies in today’s executive pay packages. During a recent Directors & Boards webinar, Farient CEO Robin A. Ferracone and IDEX Corporation Board Member Lakecia Gunter explored the future of best practices and how compensation committees are adapting.
“One of the biggest challenges compensation committees face is the collision course between governance standards and retaining great people,” Ferracone says. “You want to do what you promise shareholders, but then something unique comes along and you think you have to give a special award. Proxy advisors and investors don’t like those special awards, but sometimes they’re necessary.”
Retaining Mission-Critical Talent:
Strengthening C-suite Succession
A recognized leader in corporate performance and total rewards management, Farient Advisor Tracy Wittman has more than three decades of experience advising organizations on compensation, benefits, and talent management. Her experience reflects a commitment to excellence and innovation, shaped by high-profile roles at Target Corp., General Mills, and KinderCare Learning Cos. (KLC).
Ahead of her participation next week at NACD’s 2025 Directors Summit, we had the opportunity to sit down with Tracy to discuss her career, her views on the business of consulting and more specifically on what it takes to align compensation, talent management, and corporate governance in today’s ever-changing environment.
A Career Built on Compensation and Rewards
Tracy’s career path is a testament to her command of executive compensation and governance. She says her decision to join Farient Advisors as an advisor earlier this year was driven by a desire to be part of a team that values collaboration and excellence. Before joining Farient, Tracy was vice president of total rewards at KLC, General Mills, and Target Corp.
Insights on Consulting: The Good and the Challenging
Now as a compensation, talent management, and corporate governance consultant, Tracy says she appreciates its dynamic nature and the opportunity to collaborate with clients in diverse industries, at different stages of maturity, and with specific strategic goals. She also acknowledges the challenges that come with the territory, such as the need to stay informed on emerging topics affecting leadership succession, pipeline development, and workforce planning amid shifting economic, regulatory, and geopolitical forces.
Join Us at the Summit
Tracy joins panelists TrueBlue Director Colleen B. Brown and KPMG’s Annalisa Barrett to explain the vital linkages between talent, compensation, and business strategy that result in value creation. Their panel, Retaining Mission-Critical Talent: Strengthening C-Suite Succession Planning, takes place at the convention center in National Harbor, Maryland, on Tuesday, October 14 at 10:45 a.m.
In the News
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.
(For up-to-date Say on Pay results, visit Farient’s U.S. SOP Tracker and Farient’s U.K. Remuneration Voting Tracker.)
Read moreWhere to Find Us
Strengthening C-Suite Succession Planning
How can boards best prepare to mitigate leadership risks and secure mission-critical talent? Proactive strategies will be presented by Farient Principal Tracy Wittman, KPMG Senior Advisor Annalisa Barrett, and public company board director Colleen B. Brown during this Summit session on October 14, 2025 at 10:45 a.m.
National Harbor, Maryland
October 12-15, 2025
NACD Carolinas Chapter
Executive Perspectives on Top Risks
To thrive amid rapid change, knowledge is power. Farient Partner Jarret Sues leads a timely discussion on risks with Director Marcia Avedon, CHRO Janice Dupré, and Protiviti Managing Director Fran Maxwell. This in-person and virtual session will explore board-level strategies for sustaining leadership pipelines, culture, and values. For additional information on how to attend virtually, contact us at info@farient.com.
Quail Hollow Club
3700 Gleneagles Road
Charlotte, NC 28210
October 29, 2025
5 p.m.-7 p.m.
NACD Board Leadership Exchange
Compensation Committee Leader Exchange
This invitation-only, semi-annual directors’ forum allows candid off-the-record conversations and rare access to Fortune 500 board leaders tailored to various committee roles. Compensation Committee Chairs discuss the latest strategies for aligning compensation with performance, predicting turnover, building strong leadership pipelines, and more.
New York City
November 19, 2025
2025 Directorship 100 Gala
Celebrating Excellence in Board Leadership
Farient’s Robin A. Ferracone and R.J. Bannister will be among the 100 honorees recognized for outstanding leadership in governance and the boardroom.
Cipriani
25 Broadway, New York, NY 10004
December 11, 2025
6-10 p.m.
For additional information on any of these events, please send an email to info@farient.com.
Understanding Climate Incentives
Exclusive: Around the globe, the heat is on to combat climate change while some political regimes denounce the veracity between greenhouse gas emissions and a warming planet. Nevertheless, large corporations are reporting Scope 1, Scope 2, and, increasingly, Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions and linking reductions to executive compensation, according to Farient Advisors’ newly published 2025 Global Trends in Stakeholder Incentives: Climate Strategies and Incentives for Corporate Sustainability.
Learn more about how the world’s largest companies are setting and achieving climate goals by linking climate measures to executive incentives by sector and geography.
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 talent and compensation through a tailored, analytically rigorous, and collaborative approach. Farient has locations in Los Angeles, New York, Louisville, and London. Farient 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.
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