Human capital remains key feature in executive incentive plans despite ESG reframing, WTW study

Core Insights - U.S. investors are increasingly focusing on ESG policies that enhance sustainable business practices and shareholder value, leading companies to refine executive incentive plans with quality metrics centered on human capital [1][6] Group 1: ESG Metrics in Executive Incentive Plans - 76% of S&P 500 companies reported incorporating at least one ESG metric in their executive incentive plans, marking a 1% decline from the previous year [2] - Globally, 80% of companies included at least one ESG metric in their executive incentive plans, with 75% using ESG measures in short-term incentive plans and 32% in long-term incentive plans [3] Group 2: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Metrics - The prevalence of DEI metrics in the U.S. has significantly decreased due to recent Court rulings and policy changes, with only 34% of S&P 500 companies using these metrics in executive incentives, down from 55% the previous year [4] - 23 companies (5%) of the S&P 500 disclosed plans to remove DEI metrics from their executive incentive plans for the current year, indicating a continuing trend away from these metrics [4] Group 3: Human Capital Metrics - Human capital metrics remain a priority, with 71% of North American companies and 81% of European companies including at least one people-related metric in their executive incentive plans [5] - Common people-related metrics include employee engagement, succession planning, culture, and employee retention, reflecting a focus on governance of people risks and opportunities [6] Group 4: Study Overview - The WTW 2025 ESG Incentive Metrics Study analyzed 1,070 public company disclosures across major stock exchange indices in 18 markets, covering fiscal years ending between May 2024 and May 2025 [7]