When is CEO pay a problem?

Last year CEO pay rose 20 times faster than workers’ pay, according to new research from Oxfam and the International Trade Union Confederation. At the most extreme end of that pay scale, investors approved an executive package for Elon Musk worth a potential $1tn

So when does CEO pay become too high?  What are the commercial, ethical and cultural implications for organisations if they’re perceived to be over-paying their CEOs?  And as businesses compete globally for the best executive talent what can Boards do to keep pay packages in check?

Transcript

You can read the full transcript of this episode here.

Links

• Top CEO pay statistics from Oxfam
• ICAEW: Remuneration Committee ebooks
• ICAEW: Guidance on remuneration
• ICAEW: How a CEOs pay package influences corporate culture
• ICAEW: ICAEW CPD record

Host

• Philippa Lamb

Guests

• Shefaly Yogendra, independent Board director, board adviser and author
• Peter van Veen, Governance and Ethics Director, ICAEW

Producer

• Natalie Chisholm

Series Lead

• Mark Rowland

Episode first published: 17 June 2026

Podcast recorded: 11 May 2026