The Compensation Committee Leadership Network (CCLN) brings together a select group of compensation committee chairs from North America's leading companies for private discussions about how to improve the performance of their corporations and earn the trust of their shareholders through more effective compensation committee work.

Tapestry Networks produces the CCLN, orchestrates the discussions and works to ensure that they lead to enduring impact. Meridan Compensation Partners provide executive compensation expertise; two of its leaders participate as members.

Compensation committees play a pivotal role in raising long-term corporate performance and strengthening shareholder trust.

Executive compensation dynamics: reflecting back and looking ahead (PDF) - June 2010
On June 3, the Compensation Committee Leadership Network (CCLN) convened in Chicago for its 11th meeting.  Members reflected on the executive pay practices of 2009 as reported in the 2010 proxy season, and looked ahead at the compensation committee’s agenda for the remainder of the year.   Members also considered the far-reaching implications of the shifting regulatory and legislative landscape.  CCLN members were joined over lunch by John White, former director of the Division of Corporation Finance at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and current co-chair of Cravath, Swaine & Moore’s corporate governance and board advisory practice.

Executive compensation 2009-2011: Continued change to reflect new realities (PDF) - March 2010
On March 3 and 4, the Compensation Committee Leadership Network (CCLN) convened in New York for its 10th meeting. Members reflected on the 2010 compensation committee agenda, the current regulatory and legislative landscape, the relationship between the head of human resources (HR) and the compensation committee, and the evolving role of the independent compensation consultant. Members were joined by special master of executive compensation (also known as the “pay czar”) Kenneth Feinberg over breakfast on March 4.

Executive compensation in a fast-changing environment (PDF) - October 2009
On September 30 and October 1, 2009, the Compensation Committee Leadership Network (CCLN) convened in New York for its ninth face-to-face meeting.  Members discussed the immediate challenges of the current economic environment and the longer-term implications for compensation plans, the potential impact of the shifting legislative and regulatory landscape, and a range of approaches to CEO evaluation.  Over dinner members were joined by John Castellani, president of Business Roundtable, who shared perspectives and research on public attitudes toward business and discussed developments on corporate-governance reforms being considered in Washington.

Staying the course: executive compensation in 2009 (PDF) - June 2009
Members of the Compensation Committee Leadership Network met on June 17 and 18, 2009, in Chicago to share their experiences, perspectives, and insights on designing compensation plans in the current economic environment, navigating the shifting regulatory landscape, and prioritizing leadership development and succession planning.  Over dinner, members were joined by guest Nell Minow, editor and cofounder of The Corporate Library, who shared her views on how boards can improve executive compensation plans and engage more effectively with shareholders.

The economic and financial crisis: implications for the compensation committee (PDF) - February 2009
Members of the Compensation Committee Leadership Network met on February 5, 2009, in New York to share their thoughts on the unique challenges facing compensation committees in the current economic and financial crisis. A portion of their discussion was informed and enlivened by special guest Michael Chae from The Blackstone Group. Members also engaged in a joint session with members of the Audit Committee Leadership Network to consider the intersections of risk and reward.

Chairing the compensation committee "in interesting times" (PDF) - October 2008
The members of the Compensation Committee Leadership Network met on October 15 and 16, 2008, in New York to share their thoughts on how compensation committees are navigating the current economic climate and other timely issues.

Executive Compensation in 2008: Never a Dull Moment (PDF) - May 2008
Members of the CCLN met on May 22 and 23, 2008, in Chicago to share their thoughts on the 2008 proxy season and how they plan to address pay for performance during a challenging economic period. They also engaged in lively discussions around such topical issues as separating the role of chairman and CEO, the board’s involvement in executive compensation, and the 2008 presidential election.

The Compensation Committee 2008 Agenda: Back to Business (PDF) - Jan 2008
The members of the CCLN met on January 9 and 10, 2008, in Washington, DC to share thoughts on their executive compensation agendas for 2008 and the work that lies ahead this year. These discussions were informed and enlivened by special guest and former SEC Commissioner Roel C. Campos.

Addressing the 2007 SEC Comment Letters (PDF) - Fall 2007
Members of the Compensation Committee Leadership Network met in a series of two teleconferences in October and November to discuss the proxy comment letters the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sent out in August and September. The teleconferences covered three primary topics: (1) what the SEC intended to accomplish with the letters and how well it succeeded; (2) members’ observations and recommendations to the SEC; and (3) what we can expect in 2008 and beyond.

Revising the SEC's Executive Compensation Disclosure Rules (PDF) - July, 2007
Compensation Committee Leadership Network members met in a series of three teleconferences on July 12, 23, and 26 to discuss possible improvements to the SEC’s executive compensation disclosure rules. Members expanded these discussions to include lessons learned from the 2007 proxy season and the CCLN’s role moving forward.

A Unique Moment in Time (PDF) - April 12-13, 2007
Compensation Committee Leadership Network (CCLN) members met in Chicago on April 12-13, 2007, to share thoughts on new disclosure rules from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) now that the first batch of proxies has been filed.

Designing Effective and Equitable Executive Compensation
Policies and Plans (pdf) - November 29-30, 2006
Members of the Compensation Committee Leadership Network (CCLN) met on November 29 and 30 to share their thoughts on how to design executive pay policies and practices that shape and drive corporate performance while securing public trust in private enterprise.

The Board's Role in Enhancing Stakeholders' Understanding of Executive Compensation (pdf) - Fall 2006 Teleconferences
CCLN members continued their conversation about the board's role and executive compensation when they came together in September and October 2006 in a series of three small-group teleconferences.

Restoring Public Trust in Private Enterprise: The Compensation Committee in the Spotlight (pdf)
- June 20-21, 2006
The CCLN met for the first time on June 20-21, 2006 to discuss compensation committee priorities over the next 12 to 18 months, defining executive performance, and delivering pay commensurate with performance.

CCLN members chair the compensation committees of leading global enterprises, including:

Abbott Labs

Aon Corporation

Applied Materials

Archer Daniels Midland

Caterpillar Inc.

CenturyLink

Constellation Energy Group

Corning

Delta Air Lines

DemandTec

Electronic Arts

Ingram Micro

Lowe's Companies

Microsoft Corporation

Motorola

NCR Corporation

Northern Trust Corporation

Northrop Grumman Corporation

Sara Lee Corporation

Smurfit-Stone Container Corp.

Symantec

Texas Instruments

Union Pacific Corporation

Wells Fargo

Western Union