U.S. leads in capital, talent, and returns – others race to catch up
GECN Group conducts annual research on global trends in executive compensation and governance across leading economies on five continents. This year’s research considers how CEO compensation and incentive structures are shaped by both local and global forces. Our analysis recognizes that attracting, retaining, and motivating the world’s better leaders is fundamental to long-term value creation and corporate sustainability. Competition for executive talent is increasingly international, as companies and their leaders seek to compete in a global marketplace. This persists even as geopolitical headwinds – such as tariffs and immigration restrictions –threaten to disrupt traditional talent flows. Navigating these challenges requires globally experienced and adaptable leadership, underscoring the need for compensation strategies that are competitive and responsive. Meanwhile, governance standards are influenced by capital flows, institutional investors, and shifting political norms. Despite convergence in some areas, there remain significant opportunities for CEO pay arbitrage. Some talent is not globally mobile and some companies are not yet fully accessing the worldwide talent pool. Yet, it stands to reason that capital follows opportunity created by leaders attracted and retained to create value for shareholders.
The full GECN Group report on CEO pay, to be published in Q1 2026, will delve further into these details. The publication will provide deeper analysis, robust answers to the questions raised in this summary, and expanded insights into executive compensation practices, plan design, and talent issues in global markets.
About The Author
Ryan Resch, Senior Partner
Ryan serves as a founder and Senior Partner of Southlea, a company under the GECN Group.
With over 20 years of experience, he has consulted for complex organizations across North America on executive and employee compensation, including the related governance aspects. He frequently acts as the designated compensation consultant for either the human resources committee or management. Before establishing Southlea, Ryan held positions at Willis Towers Watson in Toronto and Vancouver, where he managed numerous significant client relationships within the practice.
He utilizes his extensive knowledge to unite stakeholders and facilitate impactful change that aligns with essential business, performance and talent objectives. Renowned for his innovative and fresh perspectives, he leads Southlea’s research and intellectual capital development initiatives, providing fresh insights on topical executive compensation and talent issues to support effective Human Resources Committee decision making.
Ryan collaborates with a diverse range of organizations, including publicly traded companies, privately held firms, joint ventures, and government entities across various sectors such as financial services, energy, industrial, and technology.
Ryan earned a Master of Business Administration in Management and Organization Studies from Simon Fraser University. He has also completed the Institute of Corporate Directors’ Director Education Program and holds the ICD.d designation.
Ryan is the Global Chair of the GECN Group and past Chair of the GTA Chapter of the Institute of Corporate Directors. He regularly presents and authors articles on relevant compensation and governance topics for platforms such as the World Economic Forum, NASPP, The Corporate Board, and Equilar.