96 million on average down 13 from 2007

The wages of company bosses are divided into two large category in 2008: those who have suffered the crisis and those who resisted. Of the summary table of the remuneration of the leaders of the CAC 40 (see opposite and following pages), who delivers a total of 76.4 million euros (excluding STMicroelectronics), half of the operational leaders of the main French values have seen their gross earnings fall. On average, lower dominates; each pattern having realized that EUR 1.96 million, on average, down 13 from 2007. The lucky ones have maintained their emoluments, or even to advance. Sometimes with daring, as the pattern of Essilor International, which rose by 26.1 of its revenues. Far ahead, the le PDG CEO of group Danone, Frank Riboud, won first place in the top 2008 in terms of overall remuneration, with a fixed and variable close envelope of EUR 4.3 million. A few brewed behind, CEO of LVMH, Bernard Arnault (owner of the "voices"), with a total of remuneration "cash" close to EUR 3.9 million. Jean-Paul Agon, Chief Executive of l ' Oréal cosmetics producer, sometimes in third position, with 3.5 million of gross remuneration due to the title of 2008.

Bankers to the sentence

Tail of platoon are, unsurprisingly, two bankers. Come in may, Frédéric Oudéa, successor of Daniel button to the position of General Manager of Société Générale, received a modest pay 612.742 euros and without bonus. Complemented by the remuneration of its predecessor, became President of the Board of Directors, the poster 962.742 euros to the counter function. The General Director of Credit Agricole, Georges Pauget, comes second among the less well off with a total of 920.000 euro. The largest decrease is also a financial, Baudouin Prot, CEO of BNP Paribas. Its payroll sheet fell 70.2 in one year, to approximately EUR 945.000. Even the reference shareholder and CEO of PPR, Francois-Henri Pinault luxury group, has not escaped to the axe of the conditions of performance associated with its variable parts. They rose from 1.4 million euros in 2007 to zero in 2008.

Only data from which a comparison between patterns is possible, pay "cash" are by definition the rest of the emoluments of the patterns. It includes the bonus titles, the famous stock and shares so-called "free". During bull market, this form of compensation may increase the amounts affected by the leaders. Their place in the "package" negotiated with the specialist committees could be revised. "The structure of the remuneration packages will evolve, says Philippe Poincloux, Director-General and member of the board of Towers Perrin, a firm of consultants pay to boards of Directors and special committees. There will be less of stock options and free shares and a little more pay long-term monetary form based on the actual performance of the company, not expectations or the movements of the market.

On variable shares, he added: "If you look at the past five years, the mathematical part associated with the financial performance had become paramount and continued to grow...". Now begin to appear of the qualitative criteria related to sustainable development and citizenship of the company. "Criteria little appreciated by the remuneration committees, seeking at all costs avoid accusations of laxity.