South Africa has the highest wage inequality in the world, and there is growing interest in remuneration governance and director pay.

Analysis by Board Agenda reveals that pay revolts in the first half of 2021 are up on the same period last year by 51%.

Study reveals 95% of UK and EU firms include ESG metrics in executive compensation plans, compared with 22% of US corporates.

While not exactly back to business as usual, companies are likely to feel investor pressure on a range of non-Covid topics in 2021.

Chief executive pay deals in the US have begun to cluster around the same levels regardless of the size or profitability of the firms involved.

Study shows up to half the initial pay gap for female executives is eroded over the first six years of tenure, but a “residual gap” persists.

Only 36 FTSE 100 companies cut CEO pay as a result of the pandemic, while the median FTSE 100 CEO pay package fell by 0.5% in 2019.

CEOs of the 50 largest US companies saw their compensation cut from $4.73bn to $2.24bn in 2019, with Covid-19 adding further pressure this year.

With shareholder activism on the rise, boards must ensure they engage fully with investor concerns and demonstrate how they are addressing crucial issues.

The Investor Forum warns short-term issues are “crowding out real conversation about long-term strategic value and broader stakeholder perspectives”.