CEO Compensation Watch

The days of huge signing bonuses for chief executives are over, at least for the present. So said a study by Christian & Timbers, a global executive search firm.

Base salaries for the top dogs continued to rise, up 6% through June 15, but are well short of the standard 15% increase recorded from 1999 to 2000.

CEO bonuses took the biggest hit, down 47%.

“The elimination of many CEO positions . . . combined with a depressed stock market has reduced the pressure on companies to offer bonuses,” said Jeffrey Christian, chairman and CEO of Christian & Timbers.

“It’s not as tough to keep a CEO ‘whole’ in terms of salary and stock options.”