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At Cogent Compensation, Partners, our executive compensation consultants assist in bringing together the various interests involved in the executive pay debate: employees, shareholders, institutions, and other stakeholders.

Cogent News

Cogent to Speak at Equilar Summit in Austin Texas | May, 2012
Full Conference Date: June 11 – 13, 2012
Location: Austin, Texas Hyatt Regency Lost Pines

Join Cogent at Equilar’s annual summit which focuses exclusively on executive compensation. Cogent’s Steve Cross will join a panel discussion titled “Connecting Pay and Performance – Champions and Challenges” on June 12th.  Cogent will lead the Energy Industry Roundtable discussion on June 13th.  For registration information visit Equilar’s website at http://www.equilar.com/summit/index.php.
Cogent Hosts WorldatWork Webinar: Executive Incentive Arrangements for Challenging Markets | October, 2011
The current market environment challenges compensation professionals to design incentive compensation plans that are motivationally effective and externally defensible.  Steve Cross, managing partner of Cogent Compensation Partners will discuss incentive compensation design innovations that work for today.  Listen to this WorldatWork webinar live on March 28, 2012 from 11:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Central.

To register go to the WorldatWork website link: http://www.worldatwork.org/waw/adimLink?id=58356
Cogent to Sponsor Power Breakfast at NACD Board Leadership Conference | July, 2011
Conference Date & Location: October 2-4, 2011 - Washington D.C.

Deemed the premier knowledge exchange for directors committed to boardroom excellence, the National Association of Coporate Directors will hold their annual conference in Washington D.C. October 2 - 4, 2011. Cogent Compensation Partners will sponsor a Power Breakfast beginning at 6:45 a.m. on Monday, October 3rd, led by Steve Cross.  More details to follow in the coming weeks. For registration information, please visit: http://www.nacdonline.org/conference/
Cogent's Steve Cross to Speak at Equilar 2011 Executive Compensation Summit | January, 2011
Full Conference Date: June 13-16, 2011
Location: Carlsbad, CA La Costa Resort and Spa

Equilar’s annual conference focuses exclusively on executive compensation.  Conference attendees will hear experts discuss the latest issues in executive compensation and also have a chance to exchange ideas with peers.  Steve Cross will speak on the pay for performance panel on June 14th.  He will lead the energy roundtable and change in control severance roundtables on June 15th.  For registration information, visit Equilar’s website at

www.equilar.com.
Cogent's Steve Cross to Speak at National NACD Corporate Governance Conference | August, 2010
Topic: Finding Balance in the Executive Compensation Process
Session Date: Monday, October 18, 2010, 3:45-5:15pm
Full Conference Date: October 16-19, 2010
Location: Washington DC, JW Marriot Hotel

The NACD's annual conference is regarded as the preeminent knowledge exchange for directors committed to boardroom excellence.  Steve Cross will be joined by Marty Evans, Compensation Committee Chair of Office Depot, among others for a panel discussion entitled "Finding Balance in the Executive Compensation Process."  For registration information, please visit

www.nacdonline.org.
Cogent Invited to Speak at NACD Meeting (Houston Chapter) in December | April, 2009
Topic: Executive Compensation Update
Date: December 2009
Location: Houstonian Hotel, Houston, TX

For more information and opportunities to register, please visit

www.nacdonline.org.
Cogent Celebrates 2nd Anniversary of Houston Office | January, 2009
Houston, Texas - Cogent Compensation Partners celebrated the completion of their second year. Cogent's Managing Partner, Steve Cross, shared the operating results with consulting staff, including special recognition for the high quality clients the Firm has been able to serve during its first two years. www.cogentcompensation.com.
Cogent Publishes Study on Energy Industry Board of Director Compensation Trends | December, 2008
Houston, Texas - Cogent Compensation Partners recently published "Trends in Energy Industry Board of Director Compensation," a study examining changes from 2006 to 2007 in director compensation at 60 US public energy companies. The study summarizes findings on total director compensation, as well as the individual elements of compensation such as cash retainers and equity grants. Given the recent economic events, Cogent also analyzed the effects of declining stock prices on the overall value of these packages.

To download a copy of this study, please click here: Trends in Energy Industry Board of Director Compensation.
Presentation by Steve Cross to the TriCities Chapter of NACD | December, 2008
Steve Cross, Managing Partner of Cogent Compensation Partners, spoke at the NACD TriCities chapter meeting in Houston on December 11th, 2008. The presentation focused on the current environment of executive pay and practical applications for directors. He was joined by John Riley, who serves on the boards of Baker Hughes, Allstate Insurance and West Lake Chemicals. Mr. Riley shared his perspective on the subject from his role as outside director. The audience included corporate directors, advisors and corporate staff that handle governance matters.

To download a copy of this presentation, please click here:

Executive Pay - Current Environment & Practical Applications for Directors.
Cogent Holds 2nd Annual Client Conference | October, 2008
Austin, Texas - Cogent Compensation Partners held their second annual client conference. Cogent discussed the recent challenges of operating in a dynamic market. Special attention was given to the potential effects on executive pay and corporate governance that could result from the November elections and the recent market turmoil.
Cogent Announces Strategic Alliance with Davos Consulting - Dubai | June, 2008
Cogent announced it has entered a strategic alliance with Davos Consulting, a leading compensation and HR strategy firm in Dubai. The relationship adds capabilities for Cogent in the Middle East, an area critical to serving the energy industry. Richard Coates is the Managing Director of Davos Consulting and brings many years of experience in serving clients in all facets of Human Resource advisory.

For more information, visit Davos Consulting.

Cogent Celebrates 1st Anniversary of Houston Office | January, 2008
Houston, Texas - Cogent Compensation Partners celebrated the completion of their first year. Cogent's managing partner, Steve Cross, shared the operating results with consulting staff, including special recognition for the high quality clients the Firm has been able to serve during its first year.

Cogent's vision continues to be a focused professional services firm with multiple offices in the US, working together to provide best-in-class advisory services to the companies in each market served. Cogent's Houston office and corporate headquarters are located in Two Allen Center in downtown Houston. The business plan calls for the addition of up to eight offices. Targeted cities include: Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. Each office will be headed by a senior executive compensation consultant. http://www.cogentcompensation.com.

Cogent Completes Energy Industry Severance and Retention Survey | November, 2007
Houston, Texas - Cogent Compensation Partners, continuing its theme of investing in intellectual capital for the energy industry, completed a survey of employee severance and retention programs in the Energy industry. The need for the survey arose due to market demand for data, which has historically been scarce for this topic. Organizations operating in a dynamic and highly competitive environment participated, and the survey revealed conclusions from all levels of jobs from Petro-Tech to Executive positions. Cogent intends to update this survey periodically.
Annual Client Conference | October, 2007
Cogent Compensation Partners held their first annual offsite meeting to discuss the latest trends and happenings in executive compensation. In addition, clients were exposed to upcoming issues and events in the industry.
Cogent Opens Houston Office | January, 2007
Houston, Texas - Cogent Compensation Partners, an independent executive compensation consulting firm, opened in Houston, Texas. The Firm is headed by veteran executive compensation advisor, Steve Cross.

http://www.cogentcompensation.com.