Executive Compensation in the United Kingdom – Past, Present, and Future

Executive compensation is a constant work in progress, influenced by the ebb and flow of corporate and financial crises, political agendas, and academic and popular commentary. Against the background of a flurry of new provisions, this article begins by taking a step back and provides a high-level perspective on the fundamental issues and drivers of the contemporary executive compensation debate. Building upon this basis, the article then moves to explore the rules on executive remuneration in the UK, looking first at earlier approaches before shifting to a more detailed exploration of the most recent reforms. The article concludes with a critical analysis of the current framework and, more generally, the merits of regulating executive compensation. It suggests that it is unclear whether executive compensation has correctly been identified as a field for regulatory intervention, and, if there is such a case, that the UK's latest measures are insufficient to address the problem