Top tech, HR executives gain in pay, prominence: Conference Board

Economic Growth and AI Impact - AI and related information processing equipment contributed 0.97 percentage points to economic growth in the first nine months of 2025, surpassing the growth impact seen during the dot-com boom in 2000 [4] - The integration of AI into operations is expected to drive significant investment well into 2026 and beyond, according to researchers from the St. Louis Fed [5] Executive Compensation Trends - More than half of U.S. companies are planning to reduce employee compensation to allocate capital for AI investments, with 54% expected to cut compensation and 26% planning layoffs by the end of 2025 [6] - Compensation reductions are affecting not just base salaries but also raises, benefits, bonuses, and equity awards [7] Rise of Technology and HR Roles - The number of top executives in law-related roles at Russell 3000 companies increased by 21% from 2021 to 2025 [7] - Chief Technology Officers (CTOs) and Chief Human Resource Officers (CHROs) have seen significant pay increases and prominence, with their presence among the highest-paid executives rising by 61% and 55%, respectively, from 2021 to 2025 [8] - The growth in CHRO and CTO roles indicates that talent, culture, and digital capability are now considered enterprise risks rather than mere support functions [8]