An End to One-Size-Fits-All Proxy Voting | Farient Briefings
January 28, 2026
An End to One-Size-Fits-All Proxy Voting
Proxy voting is being shaken up like never before. A new executive order from the Trump administration is putting ISS and Glass Lewis under the microscope, targeting their influence on environmental, social, and governance issues and demanding more transparency and regulatory examinations.
Meanwhile:
- JPMorgan has cut its ties to traditional proxy advisors in favor of its own AI-powered platform, signaling the growing impact of tech tools for shareholder voting
- Both ISS and Glass Lewis are rolling out their most sweeping policy changes in years, with tougher standards on executive pay, capital structure, and director accountability
- Glass Lewis is even planning to retire its one-size-fits-all recommendations in favor of AI-customized frameworks by 2027
What does this mean for boards and investors?
Expect more tailored, tech-enabled voting, greater scrutiny of compensation, and a proxy landscape where clear, accurate disclosures are more crucial than ever. Proxy advisors aren’t going away—but their influence is evolving fast.
Resurrecting History: ISS Lengthens ‘Look-backs’ for PFP Tests
Just when companies thought they’d mastered ISS’s pay‑for‑performance playbook, the rules changed—again.
With ISS stretching key look‑backs from three years to five, 2026’s evaluations won’t just measure recent decisions—they’ll resurrect history. For Compensation Committees, that means legacy pay, old performance swings, and even pandemic‑era distortions are back on the table.
The question now is simple: Are you ready for what your past says about you?
Read moreICYMI
Trump Bans Short Term Metrics, Floats $5M Pay Cap for Defense Execs—Agenda
Executive orders may be coming for CEO pay. Robin Ferracone, CEO of Farient Advisors, told Agenda that boards should move quickly following a new executive order from the Donald Trump administration targeting executive compensation practices at defense contractors.
She advised directors to inventory existing government contracts, assess performance against contractual obligations, and review current share buyback and dividend policies.
Ferracone also highlighted the need for boards and management teams to prepare negotiating strategies with federal agencies as enforcement details continue to take shape.
Read more
Where to Find Us
Optimizing the Board-CEO Relationship
The Farient team will join the NACD Florida Chapter in Naples on February 10 for a discussion on optimizing the Board-CEO relationship. The program will explore a practical, three-step framework from the NACD’s 2025 Blue Ribbon Commission Report, focused on building trust, improving alignment, and strengthening the strategic partnership between boards and their chief executives.
NACD Florida Chapter
Naples, Florida
February 10, 2026
3-6 p.m. ET
Leading Minds of Governance
Farient Partner R.J. Bannister joins Directors Kelly Barrett and Anil Cheriyan, and Matthew Hinton, a partner at Control Risks, to provide their insights at this signature NACD event. Digital oversight, emerging risks in board governance, and the alignment of compensation strategies with organizational goals are among the headline-making topics to be covered.
Atlanta
March 11, 2026
10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. ET
For more information about these events, please contact info@farient.com.
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About Farient Advisors
Farient Advisors LLC, a GECN Group Company, is an independent premier executive compensation, performance, and corporate governance consultancy. Farient provides a full array of services linking business and talent strategy to compensation through a tailored, analytically rigorous, and collaborative approach. Farient has locations in Los Angeles, Newport Beach, New York, Louisville, 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.
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