Executive pay is under more scrutiny than ever. In 2023, median CEO pay at S&P 500 companies climbed to $16.3 million, while worker pay rose by just 4.1%. In early 2025, Goldman Sachs’ plan secured only 66% shareholder approval, a sharp decline from the previous year. These examples illustrate the sensitivity and risk associated with poorly structured pay packages.
This whitepaper provides boards and compensation committees with a CEO compensation package template. It helps benchmark best practices, avoid governance pitfalls, and create defensible pay structures that align with performance and oversight.
What this whitepaper offers
This resource provides practical guidance, examples, and ready-to-use tools, including the following:
- CEO and executive compensation package examples with editable fields
- Sample executive compensation packages for public, private, and startup leaders
- Breakdown of core CEO compensation components — base salary, annual bonuses, equity, long-term incentive plans (LTIPs), and perks
- Compensation committee agenda sample to structure meetings and decision-making
- Governance best practices — principles for independence, fairness, equity benchmarking, and accurate documentation of decisions
- Tips on technology integration — how board portals like Ideals Board centralize approvals, track audit trails, and secure sensitive compensation data
- Downloadable templates: CEO package, committee charter, and compensation committee minutes for documentation
Who this whitepaper targets
We designed this guide for governance and leadership professionals who require clarity, structure, and practical examples when addressing executive compensation.
- Board members and compensation committee chairs ensuring decisions withstand scrutiny
- HR executives and governance professionals structuring competitive yet fair compensation plans
- CEOs and founders preparing proposals or reports for board approval
- Legal and compliance officers documenting and safeguarding pay decisions
Whether you’re running a public or private company, or a nonprofit, this executive compensation plan template provides a flexible foundation.
Download the CEO compensation package template
This whitepaper and toolkit will help you:
- Benchmark against the CEO compensation packages examples
- Save time with a ready-to-use executive compensation package template
- Structure pay plans that align with performance, risk, and oversight
- Strengthen governance with compensation committee minutes and agenda samples
Don’t leave compensation decisions to chance. Equip your board and committee with defensible, transparent structures that protect leadership and shareholders.