2025 Energy CEO Compensation Trends

In today’s energy industry, compensation challenges seem to be the largest frown face on the pain chart. Given the dynamic pressures facing boards and management teams, it’s easy to understand why this is the case. Combine a tight labor market, especially for engineering talent in the energy market, along with energy investor pressures, commodity price volatility, private equity competition for talent, and shifts in energy transition strategies, and it’s easy to understand that solving the compensation formula is nearly as complex as turning natural resources into profitable energy. Adopting refined compensation philosophies, competitive compensation and benefit packages, and concise communications are essential components to solve the complex challenges of attracting and retaining top talent in the energy industry. Getting good market data is typically the number one challenge for most energy companies. ECI has been recognized as the gold standard for E&P compensation and benefit data for the last three decades. Now expanding back into services, midstream and alternative energy segments, ECI can serve as the backbone for determining current and future market positioning. The 2024 ECI Survey Report excerpt (download to access) provides snapshots of ECI data for illustration purposes. The following is an excerpt from the 2024 ECI Survey Report for a snapshot of the types of data captured within the survey. To learn more about how to become a participant in one of Zayla’s surveys or purchase market pricing, visit www.zayla.com/ecisurveys or give us a call at 832-363-5089.

Download Content »

At Zayla Partners, we specialize in helping our clients navigate the intricacies of executive and non-executive employee compensation, ensuring their compensation programs are competitive, align with shareholder interests and overall corporate strategy, and consider market best practices and employee expectations. In this article, we will explore the various pieces that make up a competitive compensation package and the importance of each individual element.

Download Content »

Companies transitioning from private to public status typically face the pivotal task of transforming executive compensation structures. This shift is not merely a procedural change but a strategic maneuver to align with public company market norms. The overarching goal is to retain and motivate the leadership team that possesses deep institutional knowledge of the company. Such a strategy ensures that once public, the company continues to drive shareholder value creation for its new, broader shareholder base. Below is a sequential step by step outline that boards and management should consider. While this outline is not all encompassing, these essential steps will help a compensation committee and management effectively navigate the many new factors of executive compensation as a public company.

Download Content »