UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
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Korn Ferry
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TABLE OF
CONTENTS
01
GOVERNANCE
PROPOSAL No. 1 | |
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS | 8 |
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS | 9 |
Governance Insights: Environmental, Social and Governance ("ESG") Issues | 9 |
Director Qualifications | 10 |
Snapshot of Director Nominees | 11 |
Board Diversity | 11 |
Director Tenure | 11 |
Background Information Regarding Director Nominees | 12 |
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE | 17 |
Director Independence | 17 |
Board Leadership Structure | 18 |
Board's Oversight of Enterprise Risk and Risk Management | 18 |
Board Committees | 19 |
Board Refreshment | 21 |
Culture of Integrity and Code of Business Conduct and Ethics | 22 |
Corporate Governance Guidelines | 22 |
02
COMPENSATION
PROPOSAL NO. 2 | |
ADVISORY RESOLUTION TO APPROVE EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION | 24 |
COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS | 25 |
Executive Summary: Focus on Pay-For-Performance | 25 |
Governance Insights: Selection of Performance Metrics | 26 |
Executive Compensation Philosophy And Oversight | 28 |
Our Process: From Strategy to Compensation-Related Metrics | 29 |
Elements of Compensation & Compensation Decisions and Actions | 31 |
Other Compensation Elements | 35 |
Other Policies | 36 |
Compensation and Personnel Committee Report on Executive Compensation | 37 |
Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation | 37 |
COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS | 38 | |
Fiscal Year 2019, 2018, and 2017 Summary Compensation Table | 38 | |
Fiscal Year 2019 Grants of Plan-Based Awards | 39 | |
Employment Agreements | 40 | |
Fiscal Year 2019 | Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End | 41 |
Stock Vested In Fiscal Year 2019 | 42 | |
Fiscal Year 2019 | Pension Benefits | 42 |
Fiscal Year 2019 | Nonqualified Deferred Compensation | 43 |
Potential Payments Upon Termination or Change of Control | 43 | |
Pay Ratio Disclosure | 49 | |
Fiscal Year 2019 | Compensation of Directors | 50 |
03
STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
PROPOSAL NO. 3 | |
APPROVAL OF FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED 2008 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN | 52 |
Executive Summary of Key Changes to the Plan | 52 |
Reasons for the Proposal | 52 |
Key Data | 53 |
Promotion of Good Corporate Governance Practices | 53 |
Plan Summary | 54 |
U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences | 58 |
New Plan Benefits | 59 |
Equity Compensation Plan Information | 59 |
04 | |
AUDIT MATTERS |
PROPOSAL NO. 4 | |
RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM | 62 |
AUDIT COMMITTEE MATTERS | 63 |
Fees Paid to Ernst & Young LLP | 63 |
Recommendation to Appoint Ernst & Young LLP as Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | 63 |
Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures | 64 |
Governance Insights: Korn Ferry Achieves ISO Security and Privacy Certifications | 64 |
Report of the Audit Committee | 65 |
05
OTHER PROPOSALS
PROPOSAL NO. 5 | |
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSAL REQUESTING AMENDMENTS TO ALLOW HOLDERS OF 10% OF OUTSTANDING SHARES TO CALL | |
SPECIAL STOCKHOLDER MEETINGS | 68 |
Stockholder Proposal | 68 |
Board Statement in Opposition | 69 |
06
GENERAL INFORMATION
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT | 72 |
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE PROXY MATERIALS AND THE ANNUAL MEETING | 73 |
OTHER MATTERS | 76 |
Certain Relationships and Related Transactions | 76 |
Related Person Transaction Approval Policy | 76 |
Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports | 76 |
Annual Report to Stockholders | 77 |
Communications with Directors | 77 |
Submission of Stockholder Proposals for Consideration at the 2020 Annual Meeting | 77 |
Stockholders Sharing an Address | 78 |
APPENDIX A - NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES | A-1 |
APPENDIX B - KORN FERRY FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED 2008 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN | B-1 |
Back to Contents
DEAR FELLOW
STOCKHOLDERS
Korn Ferry is on a transformative journey aligned with our vision to expand our position as the preeminent organizational consulting firm.
As the new Chair of the Board, as we mark Korn Ferry's 50th year anniversary, I want to express my excitement and enthusiasm as Korn Ferry builds upon its great foundation. Our Company is pursuing an ambitious strategy that emphasizes intense collaboration across our own organization - focused on service to our clients.
We are seeking to retain the best of our past - with a clear path to the future focused on initiatives that increase our relevance to our clients and our commercial impact.
Our strategy for growth focuses on a multi-pronged framework:
-
Drive a One Korn Ferry Go-to-Market Strategy
Our synergistic go-to-market strategy brings together our core solutions, driving more integrated, scalable client relationships. - Deliver Client Excellence and Innovation
We are leveraging our formidable data on organizational and employee motivation, work and rewards, and our proven products and solutions to produce new and enhanced offerings which will help our clients make better talent decisions. - Create the Top-of-Mind Brand in Organizational Consulting
Next to our people, the Korn Ferry brand is our strongest asset of the Company. We are also very proud to now be the umbrella sponsor of the Korn Ferry Tour and the Official Leadership Development Firm of the PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions and the Korn Ferry Tour. - Advance Korn Ferry as a Premier Career Destination
We continue to invest in building a world-class organization that is aligned to our strategy with a talented, motivated and agile workforce. - Pursue Transformational Opportunities at the Intersection of Talent and Strategy
Our disciplined approach to M&A is a vital component of our future growth and capital deployment strategies.
We believe we are changing the lives of the many executives and the organizations with whom we interact. We have evolved from a mono-line business to a global organizational consulting firm operating in 104 offices in 52 countries. We provide organizational advisory services, talent acquisition, strategy execution and leadership development. Added to that are compensation and rewards offerings and more - all enriched by our deep databases and intellectual property.
Korn Ferry will hold its annual stockholder meeting on October 3, 2019. At this year's annual meeting, two of our board members - George Shaheen and William Floyd - will be retiring from our Board. We are extremely grateful for their service. They have each helped Korn Ferry achieve new heights and left it well positioned to continue to advance.
Ultimately, our success is dependent on our people. I want to acknowledge and thank each of our more than 8,600 colleagues. Our accomplishments together are based upon your efforts and contributions. I am honored to stand alongside you all as we continue on our journey.
Sincerely,
Christina A. Gold,
Chair of the Board
August 20, 2019
Korn Ferry
1900 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 2600
Los Angeles, CA 90067
(310) 552-1834
i | 2019 Proxy Statement
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Korn Ferry International published this content on 20 August 2019 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 20 August 2019 20:47:09 UTC