Managing Director Ryan Hourihan was quoted extensively in the WorldatWork Workspan Daily article, “For Directors, Pay Is Growing Modestly While Board Duties Get Heavier.”
This article reports on findings from the Pearl Meyer & NACD 27th annual Director Compensation Report, which shows that while median public company director compensation rose only modestly—about 3% in 2025—boards are facing heavier oversight responsibilities and evolving governance expectations that are reshaping pay structures. The trend toward simplified pay programs, with more value placed in annual retainers and equity awards, reflects both stable compensation levels and the expanded duties that directors shoulder across committees and governance areas.
While director pay remains stable, the Pearl Meyer/NACD report found organizations are continuing to move away from meeting fees and incremental committee membership fees, with more value consolidated into annual cash and equity retainers.
“That shift is not just cosmetic,” said Ryan Hourihan, a managing director at Pearl Meyer. “It reflects a deliberate effort to create flexibility in how directors are deployed across committees without compensation as a barrier.”