Much has been said about how the compensation of CEO led them to make RISKY decisions for short term gain. Once, they pocket the gain from high share price, they wipe their behind clean and leave the poo to the next CEO to clean up the mess.
Compensation based on SHORT TERM performance is the problem. Within a short time frame, many would risk it all especially when the $$ came not from their own pocket but from the shareholders. Hence, the question is how to align the CEO's interest with the LONG TERM interest of the shareholders.
I heard on TV that one Bear Sterns employee said her saving plans of past 17 yrs disappear over night. Evidently, she must have got lots of Bear Sterns' options. But, something is NOT right. Y is she being a "lower" paying employee got stucked with such losses while "HIGHLY" paid CEO or management, got off the hook with millions in CASH for salary in addition to options??
I propose a change. Put a CAP on the MAXIMUM that any CEO or management level employees can take home as CASH salary, eg. $1million. By the way, Warren Buffet got paid ONLY $100,000 per year, and u want to tell me that $1million is low?? The rest of the package will be made of options with exercise date upon the retirement of the CEO or managers. Yes, they can only convert to cash when they retire! That will make sure that any decisions from them are for the LONG TERM gain of ALL stakeholders, including their own.
Should they demised before their retirement, the option should be made transferable, to wife, or children, who will only be allowed to convert they option on the stipulated date of the original holder's retirement date.
In order to protect their retirement nest egg, they will like most of us, make decisions based on what is best for the LONG TERM till they retire. They will also have to pick their successor very carefully. Because any decisions made by the new successor will impact their own pocket! This will ensure continuity of good stewardship of the company.
I welcome any criticism of my proposal. Best, if any1 of u can relate my idea to the business community or law setting bodies in US or worldwide.
Lowering of interest rate will do NOTHING to resolve such moral hazard and reckless risk taking behaviour. I urge CLEVER people to take a long term approach to solve this issue for the good of ALL mankind.
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Hi Stu,
Good idea!
I also agree that these financial institutions are over paying them CEOs. I read somewhere they the pay of CEO to employee are around 70:1 last time, now it's more like 300:1? What does that mean? They are 300 times more clever like employees?
It's these excessive pay packages that make them so arrogant and reckless in terms of risk management. Employees, if they take reckless risk, will be fired without any severage package. For CEO, they get a 'golden parachute' despite being forced to resign. What is this? White corruption to me.
Recently I learnt that the CEO of Bear stearns kept sending memo and letters to shareholders that their company is fine. What happens after a few days? They got to bailed out. There's even a story about him playing a bridge tournament while the saga unfolds. It clearly shows the heck-care attitude.
What is the world happening? I can understand your frustration over L&S. I can be a CEO too.
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