The Year the Shareholders Spoke Up: A 2015 AGM Wrap Up And What to Expect in 2016

Join us for an interactive panel discussion among three of Canada’s leading perspectives on governance and executive compensation design, proxy solicitation and institutional voting, as these leaders discuss this year’s AGM game changers.  

Topics Will Explore: 

• Effective proactive shareholder engagement
• Navigate favourable say on pay outcomes
• Address director vote concerns

• what is expected for the 2016 proxy season

• Update on major trends in executive compensation
  

2015’s AGM season proved to be a milestone year, with Canada’s shareholders voicing their views on governance, executive compensation and individual directors more than ever before. Well known organizations such as, Barrick, Yamana Gold and CIBC, to name a few – faced the largest degree of scrutiny from shareholders each receiving a NO in regards to the Say on Pay advisory vote. In addition to these impactful say on pay votes, shareholders also voiced their dissatisfaction by withholding support for a number of Directors.

Panelists:

Paul Gryglewicz, Senior Partner, Global Governance Advisors

Paul Gryglewicz is a Senior Partner at Global Governance Advisors. He engages with Boards and senior management advising them in the areas of Executive Compensation, Human Resource Strategy and Corporate Governance. Paul’s work incorporates leading edge governance practices, mitigates risk and educates key stakeholders on sophisticated compensation systems.

Paul specializes in the strategic review, valuation and innovative design of compensation and corporate governance programs that support organizational strategy and objectives, as well as shareholders’ interests. A recognized expert in executive compensation, governance and risk, Paul is sought after by both the media and learning institutions to share his insights.

Paul is an MBA graduate and Athletic Scholar from the DeGroote School of Business at McMaster University and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Management Economics in Industry and Finance from the University of Guelph.

David Salmon, Senior Vice President, Laurel Hill Advisory Group 

David is responsible for the business development of Laurel Hill’s strategic shareholder solutions and corporate governance consulting services for public companies and advises clients on shareholder strategies related to hostile and friendly acquisitions, proxy contests, and corporate governance issues.

 David brings over 15 years of financial services experience to Laurel Hill, including senior roles in sales and marketing, business development and management. Over the past 12 years David held progressively senior roles for a shareholder communications company culminating in the role of Senior Vice President, Business Development. During this time, David directly provided consulting and insight on contentious and non-contentious shareholder meetings, solicited and unsolicited tender offers, and corporate governance issues, including the $14.5billion acquisition of Fording by Teck Resources.

 Previously, David spent over 5 years gaining significant business development and sales management experience in the retail banking industry with Bank of Montreal and Toronto-Dominion Bank.

David graduated from the University of Toronto in 1995 with a major in Economics and subsequently completed the Canadian Securities course in 1997. David is a member of the Canadian Investor Relations Institute and the Canadian Society of Corporate Secretaries.

Paul Schneider, Head of Corporate Governance, Public Equities, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan

Prior to current role, Paul was serving as Manager, Corporate Governance with the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. Previously, Paul was the Director of Research for CCGG and helped establish CCGG as an influential voice in Canadian corporate governance. 

Paul leads Teachers’ international corporate governance effort with responsibility for corporate governance policy, proxy voting and company engagements. He represents Teachers’ on several global governance organizations and is a regular speaker at conferences. 

He is a judge for the CSCS Excellence in Governance Awards, a member of the CII Advisory Council, the Harvard Institutional Investor Forum Advisory Board, the CCGG Public Policy Committee and the PIAC Corporate Governance Committee.