Canadian CEOs receive less total compensation than their S&P 500 counterparts, shows a study by executive compensation consulting firm Equilar.

TSX 60 CEOs had a median total compensation of $7.6 million a year compared to $9.7 million for S&P 500 CEOs at companies of similar size.

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More Key Findings:

  • Canadian CEOs receive more of their pay in cash
  • Base salary made up 14.6% of an average TSX 60 CEO’s total compensation, compared to 10.4% for CEOs of S&P 500 companies.
  • Use of performance shares as compensation is increasing. TSX Composite listed companies giving performance shares to their CEOs went up to 41.2% in 2012 from 35.9%.
  • Options are the most common equity vehicle used to compensate CEOs in Canada, and they’re more prevalent here than in the U.S.
  • Canadian long-term incentive plans are becoming more complicated as companies add more criteria for CEOs to live up to.

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