Investor attention is shifting towards the frameworks that will shape future executive pay
In the 2026 AGM season, 36.5% of remuneration policies received more than 10% opposition, compared with 25.2% of remuneration reports. This growing focus on forward-looking pay proposals has important implications for remuneration planning, shareholder engagement and the way governance decisions are explained.
Turn the latest AGM findings into practical preparation
Download the reportInvestor scrutiny starts well before the AGM notice is released. Understanding where expectations are changing can help governance and investor relations teams identify potential areas of pressure earlier, strengthen internal discussions and plan more informed shareholder engagement.
The review brings together insight from the UK, Germany, France, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Belgium and Ireland, helping issuers understand both the wider European picture and the developments affecting individual markets.
Hear the investor perspective
Join Georgeson’s live investor panel on 24 September at 2pm BST for a practical discussion about the trends shaping shareholder expectations after the 2026 AGM season.
The session will explore remuneration scrutiny, board accountability, proxy advisor influence and the considerations that may affect preparation for the next AGM cycle.
What the report explores
Remuneration scrutiny
Discover how investor attention is moving beyond historical pay outcomes to focus increasingly on the policies and frameworks that will determine future executive remuneration.
Board accountability
Explore the voting trends affecting director elections, board composition and governance quality, along with the influence of proxy advisor recommendations.
Proxy advisor activity
Understand how proxy advisor positions are developing across European markets and where potential areas of scrutiny may need to be considered earlier in the AGM planning process.
Practical insight for the next AGM cycle
The review is designed to help:
- Company secretaries and governance professionals identify emerging areas of investor scrutiny and support earlier AGM preparation.
- Investor relations teams plan more informed engagement around remuneration, governance and voting expectations.
- Boards and executive leadership teams understand the issues influencing shareholder and proxy advisor decisions.
- Legal and compliance advisors assess governance developments across different European markets.
Use the findings to support discussions around remuneration strategy, board accountability, proxy advisor risk, shareholder engagement and meeting format decisions.