The first 50 UK annual general meetings (AGMs) of 2021 have now taken place and stakeholders are closely watching how companies have addressed Covid-19 disruptions in making decisions on executive pay.

As organisations sought to find a path to recovery out of the pandemic in 2020, many furloughed employees or accepted other government support.

Was this first group of companies to hold general meetings sensitive to concerns by employees and investors for more moderate positions on executive pay? Were they aligned?

This report shows how the first 50 companies to hold AGMs in 2021 responded to guidance and recommendations given by the voting agencies and the Investment Association (the IA). For any other companies that have not yet decided how to respond to this guidance or have not yet reported, explaining the context for decisions and providing adequate justifications for actions that deviated from guidance will be key.

How can A&M's Executive Compensation team help?

A&M Executive Compensation Services is well-positioned to advise Remuneration Committees through this period. Engagements are led by a Managing Director who attends all meetings and is actively involved in all deliverables.

This ensures you always have access to the right level of advice, particularly when making critical decisions under time pressure. Our Managing Directors have a combined 80+ years of experience in advising on executive remuneration matters.