Executive Compensation: Advisors Hold the Keys to the Paycheck

It is within the consulting sector that French executives, often impacted by the crisis, are most likely to see significant compensation. CAC 40 leaders have maintained their salaries.

2009 will be remembered as the year of the cat for executives: hunched backs, a wait-and-see approach, and bristling fur, ready to pounce at the slightest favorable shift in the situation! And for good reason: « French executives have been the most heavily impacted by the crisis, with the median increase in fixed salary reaching only 1.3% in 2009, compared to 5.5% in 2008. “, notes the human resources firm Mercer (1).

Worse still, in 2008, total compensation (base salary + variable pay + benefits in kind) in Europe had dropped by 10% compared to 2007—and even by 11% for French CEOs, according to a survey by Alpha Value, a financial analysis firm (2).

According to Apec, since 2008, there has been a trend toward narrowing the pay gap between different industries. Nevertheless, the two highest-paying sectors at that time were banking/insurance and precision engineering. According to Claire Cabaret from Reed Business Information, the strong performance of the latter, ” dates back about three years… *The metallurgy sector performed in line with the national average, while the chemical and para-chemical industries sat just above the national median.* » To maximize their leverage and secure the highest possible salaries, executives found it much more advantageous to work in the Île-de-France or Bourgogne-Franche-Comté regions rather than in Alsace-Lorraine or the Nord-Picardie-Champagne region.

Two years later, although the outlook is far from stellar, a glimmer of hope is emerging. Thus, in 2010, growth forecasts remain moderate, not exceeding 2.5%, but only 24% of companies are considering freezing executive compensation, compared to 47% in 2009! (2) In order to maximize their earnings, executives have every incentive to choose a high-growth industry. “*The highlight: the consulting sector, where salaries—in certain cases of highly specialized expertise—know no bounds. Following this comes* finance, real estate, and wholesale trade “, advises Wilhelm Laligant, Director at Randstad Search & Selection.

Provided that hiring keeps up! Which is far from being the case. In fact, according to the most optimistic forecasts from Apec, they are expected to decline by 19% in 2010 compared to 2009. These estimates are not shared by the optimistic Wilhelm Laligant: ” *In 2009, we hit rock bottom; it is only logical that hiring began to pick up again in 2010 before surging in 2012!*» As such, the director of Randstad Search & Selection is currently noting a surge in job openings within the human resources field and also reports that the automotive sector is desperately seeking talent for executive positions. Demand is also rebounding in the banking sector, as noted by Pierre Daubas, Division Manager in the Commercial Banking department at Robert Half France: « Recruitment is picking up, but for more targeted profiles, such as senior executives in specialized fields. »

In contrast, the CEOs of CAC 40 companies, even amidst significant turmoil, more than compensate for the downward revision of their fixed salaries with bonuses. In 2009, according to the website lexpansion.com, about twenty of those leading the 100 largest French companies pocketed nearly 18 million euros through stock options. That is enough to fuel several private jets!

(1) 2009 Mercer study of 313 French subsidiaries of multinational corporations

(2) 2008 study by financial analysis firm Alpha Value on executive compensation across 354 large publicly traded companies in Europe.