Microsoft CEO Ballmer’s Salary Up 4 Percent in ’09

Source: AP

Steve Ballmer

Microsoft raises CEO Steve Ballmer's salary by 4 percent as the company's profit's plunged.

Microsoft Corp. says it raised CEO Steve Ballmer’s salary by 4 percent in fiscal 2009 as the software maker’s profit plunged 17 percent on weak personal computer sales. Ballmer’s salary rose to $665,883 from $640,833, according to a preliminary filing Friday with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The CEO’s bonus was $700,000 last year.

Microsoft didn’t disclose Ballmer’s bonus for fiscal 2009. In an uncommon move, the company’s board proposed a “say-on-pay” measure that would give shareholders a chance to weigh in every three years on executive compensation. Microsoft’s 2009 earnings fell to $14.6 billion from $17.7 billion in 2008. Sales dropped 3 percent to $58.4 billion, the first time its revenue declined since it went public in 1986.

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andrew at 9:11am 22nd September 2009 I don't think that this "raise" is that big of a deal. What I see as a more interesting take away from this article is that Microsoft felt that a raise was still warranted. Were they anticipating a more substantial decrease in earnings, and felt that Ballmer's leadership capped the decline at only 17%?
maxtheimpaler at 9:44am 20th September 2009 Makes no sense. He must have threatened to leave. I like the "say-on-pay" though. But what happens if the majority of shareholders do not like how much an executive is making. Can they actually do anything about it?