Annual Read, Watch, Listen Recommendations | Farient Briefings
July 21, 2026
Annual Read, Watch, Listen Recommendations
If there is a common thread across this year’s recommendations, it’s governance under pressure.
From AI oversight and geopolitical uncertainty to succession, workforce transformation, and stakeholder expectations, today’s board agenda is expanding faster than ever.
These books, series, and podcasts won’t simply entertain during the dog days of summer—they may also spark valuable insights in the boardroom this fall.
In the News
Debate Over Who Should Teach Workers AI—Business Insider
As AI rapidly changes the workplace, companies are grappling with a new question: Who is responsible for helping employees build AI skills?
In Business Insider, Farient COO R.J. Bannister shared his perspective on why AI learning should be a shared responsibility between employers and employees.
Most professional development comes through self-directed learning and hands-on experience. As AI accelerates the pace of learning, Bannister emphasized that organizations should create opportunities for individuals to experiment with new tools while encouraging them to take ownership of their own development.
Read more
If You Want Your CEO to Be Happier…—Agenda
Farient Chief Data Officer Eric Hoffmann questions whether increasingly complex long-term incentive (LTI) plans deliver the outcomes boards intend in a recent Agenda article.
The article reports on emerging research that finds simpler compensation structures centered on salary and annual bonuses may be more effective at motivating executives than large, multi-year equity awards.
Read moreThe View From Our Australian GECN Group Partner
When Dividends Lead, Does Growth Take a Back Seat?
A mid-2026 analysis of ASX 100 companies by Guerdon Associates finds that companies with higher dividend yields are less likely to include growth measures in their Long-Term Incentive (LTI) plans.
Guerdon, a founding partner with Farient in the Global Governance and Executive Compensation (GECN) Group, suggests remuneration committees consider whether incentive hurdles reflect their company’s capital strategy and shareholder expectations.
Read moreWhere to Find Us
NACD Carolinas’ Chapter / Farient Advisors Dinner
CEO Succession: Enhancing Your Effectiveness by Integrating Compensation and Talent Analytics
Limani
Charlotte, NC
6902 Phillips Pl Ct, Charlotte, NC 28210
September 15, 2026
Farient Advisors CEO Robin Ferracone and COO R.J. Bannister will guide a peer-to-peer dinner conversation on “CEO and C-Suite Succession: The Risks Boards Don’t See Coming.” Together, they will explore the high-stakes talent and compensation decisions that can determine whether executive transitions gain momentum—or lose it. The discussion will also examine how boards can use pay as a strategic lever to motivate, retain, recruit, and develop the leaders who shape long-term performance.
Stay updated on the latest topics shaping compensation and remuneration committee agendas in the new year. Follow us on LinkedIn and share Farient Briefings with your colleagues.
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 New York, Los Angeles, Newport Beach, London, and Louisville, 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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