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    • Executive & Employee Compensation
    • Executive Compensation Analysis & Design
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    Menu
    • Executive & Employee Compensation
    • Executive Compensation Analysis & Design
    • Annual Incentive Analysis & Design
    • Long-Term Incentive Analysis & Design
    • Pay for Performance Analysis & Design
    • Compensation Philosophy Development
    • Deferred Compensation Analysis & Design
    • Compensation in Special Circumstances
    • Compensation in a Change of Control
    • Compensation in an IPO
    • Compensation in Restructuring & Bankruptcy
    • Litigation Support & Expert Witness Services
    • Nonprofit Compensation
    • Pay Equity Analysis
    • Compensation in a Private, Family-Owned Business
    • Employment Agreements
    Menu
    • Compensation in Special Circumstances
    • Compensation in a Change of Control
    • Compensation in an IPO
    • Compensation in Restructuring & Bankruptcy
    • Litigation Support & Expert Witness Services
    • Nonprofit Compensation
    • Pay Equity Analysis
    • Compensation in a Private, Family-Owned Business
    • Employment Agreements
    • Board & Governance Services
    • Board of Directors Compensation
    • Compensation Discussion & Analysis (CD&A)
    • Compensation Risk Assessment
    • Shareholder Engagement Services
    • Proxy Advisor Services
    • ESG Services
    Menu
    • Board & Governance Services
    • Board of Directors Compensation
    • Compensation Discussion & Analysis (CD&A)
    • Compensation Risk Assessment
    • Shareholder Engagement Services
    • Proxy Advisor Services
    • ESG Services
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832.363.5089
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Executive Compensation Consulting

Pay Starts with Z™

Zayla™ is a leading executive compensation consulting firm. Our unique approach to compensation strategy, planning, and design aligns with your goals to attract, retain and motivate key talent.

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Our Services

Executive Compensation Consulting

Design and planning services for shareholders, corporate boards, compensation committees and management teams on annual compensation issues for public, private and not for profit organizations.

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Compensation in Special Circumstances

Advising boards, management, and professional service partners through specialized events such as bankruptcy, IPO, or an acquisition.

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Board & Governance Consulting

Working with shareholders, owners, boards, and management to develop effective and efficient corporate governance.

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Compensation Plans to Maximize Company Performance

Zayla Partners™ is a premier executive compensation and governance consultancy. We believe talented people are the singular difference for any company’s success. Our team of expert compensation consultants develops innovative compensation strategies to allow your team to attract, retain, and motivate the best talent available with the greatest return on investment.

Looking for a reason to choose Zayla? We’ll give you nine.

9 Reasons to Choose Zayla

Attract, Retain & Motivate Executive Talent with Tailored Compensation Plans

How can compensation consultants help your business?

Zayla Partners is a team of dedicated professional compensation consultants who have decades of experience advising public, private and not for profit organizations. We have advised some of the best performing company boards and management in the US to tailor their compensation strategy so they can attract, retain, and motivate the best talent available. 

In today’s volatile market, creating and implementing effective compensation plans for executives, board members, and other company employees is a serious challenge. Companies are constantly balancing competing forces such as hyper inflation, low unemployment, the great resignation, volatile global markets, and the threat of a recession to ensure they are able to stay ahead of the labor market competition.  

Our finely tuned approach combines your company goals with market compensation best practices and a view to the future so we can help you deliver the best return on compensation investment possible. We ensure our final compensation plans not only motivate and retain your current talent, but are attractive to star performers to join your team. 

Delivering these finely tuned executive compensation strategies, employee compensation plans, incentive plan structures and corporate governance guidelines where boards, investors and management are all supportive is a balancing act that our experienced compensation consultants have mastered over the last 25 years.

Executive Compensation Analysis

A rigorous analysis tailored to ensure a solid grasp of your current compensation model compared to the competition.

Executive Compensation Design

Compensation plans designed to satisfy shareholders, board members, and more, while aligning with long-term company goals.

Annual Incentives

Effective and tailored annual incentive plans that navigate internal and external complexities while delivering the highest ROI.

Long-Term Incentives

Meet the challenges of shareholder, private company dilution, and perceived lack of long-term currency for nonprofits.

Pay for Performance

Inspire employee motivation by connecting the vision and mission of the company to goals and objectives, and finally to the performance plans.

Board of Directors Compensation

Ensuring how much director pay is not only market competitive, but accounts for the liability and responsibility incurred.

Compensation in a Change of Control

Navigate the complexities of executive pay before, during, and after a change of control, while ensuring maximum value to all involved parties.

Compensation in an IPO

From long-term incentive plan design, to shareholder dilution modeling, to S-1 disclosures, we begin with your long-term goals in mind.

Compensation in a Restructuring & Bankruptcy

During  restructurings, bankruptcies, and other similar matters, we motivate all parties to re-emerge as a strong and healthy company.

Litigation Support & Expert Witness

Expert reports for reasonable compensation, undercompensation, pay equality, shareholder oppression, disputes, sanctions, and more.

Nonprofit Compensation

Meeting the challenges of nonprofit compensation: IRS sanctions, to 990 disclosures, to donor disdain, boards and management struggle.

All-Employee Compensation

Leading-edge compensation practices to conduct market analysis, job structure design, and total rewards design for all levels of employees.

Compensation Philosophy

Helping companies articulate how their mission, goals, and objectives tie into their total rewards philosophy and practices.

Deferred Compensation

Working with our partners to ensure the best administration and 409A compliance possible.

Learn More About Our Services

Executive Compensation Analysis

A rigorous analysis tailored to ensure a solid grasp of your current compensation model compared to the competition.

Executive Compensation Design

Compensation plans designed to satisfy shareholders, board members, and more, while aligning with long-term company goals.

Annual Incentives

Effective and tailored annual incentive plans that navigate internal and external complexities while delivering the highest ROI.

Long-Term Incentives

Meet the challenges of shareholder, private company dilution, and perceived lack of long-term currency for nonprofits.

Pay for Performance

Inspire employee motivation by connecting the vision and mission of the company to goals and objectives, and finally to the performance plans.

Board of Directors Compensation

Ensuring how much director pay is not only market competitive, but accounts for the liability and responsibility incurred.

Compensation in a Change of Control

Navigate the complexities of executive pay before, during, and after a change of control, while ensuring maximum value to all involved parties.

Compensation in an IPO

From long-term incentive plan design, to shareholder dilution modeling, to S-1 disclosures, we begin with your long-term goals in mind.

Compensation in a Restructuring & Bankruptcy

During  restructurings, bankruptcies, and other similar matters, we motivate all parties to re-emerge as a strong and healthy company.

Litigation Support & Expert Witness

Expert reports for reasonable compensation, undercompensation, pay equality, shareholder oppression, disputes, sanctions, and more.

Nonprofit Compensation

Meeting the challenges of nonprofit compensation: IRS sanctions, to 990 disclosures, to donor disdain, boards and management struggle.

All-Employee Compensation

Leading-edge compensation practices to conduct market analysis, job structure design, and total rewards design for all levels of employees.

Compensation Philosophy

Helping companies articulate how their mission, goals, and objectives tie into their total rewards philosophy and practices.

Deferred Compensation

Working with our partners to ensure the best administration and 409A compliance possible.

Learn More About Our Services

The Zayla Compensation Consulting Team

Chris Crawford

Founder & CEO

Ian Keas, Zayla Partners Managing Partner

Ian Keas

Co-Founder & Managing Partner

Liz Mayo, Principal

Liz Mayo

Principal

Barret Pickering

Barret Pickering

Consultant

Ben Quint

Senior Consultant

Jennifer Sprauer

Jennifer Sprauer

Office Manager

Mykalynn Penny, Marketing and Design Manager

Mykalynn Penny

Marketing and Design Manager

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Our Approach to Compensation Consulting

What do we mean when we say, “Pay Starts with Z”? The best executive compensation strategy starts with the end first: Z. Our clients’ end goals are priority number one.

zayla partners executive compensation consulting strategy

A Closer Look at the Zayla Partners Compensation Consulting Team

Our team has over two decades of successful executive compensation consulting and corporate governance experience. We have had the pleasure of advising some of the best performing and most reputable public, privately-held, and nonprofit organizations in the U.S.

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Industry-Specific Compensation Consulting Experience

Our independent compensation consultants have advised some of the best performing public, private, and nonprofit companies in a wide range of industries from energy to services to high tech to agriculture and more.

Whether you’re looking for assistance with executive compensation planning, employee incentive plan design, corporate governance structure, litigation support for complex compensation disputes, SEC compliance, proxy statement disclosures, or employment agreement recommendations, you can rely on our consultants for industry specific guidance that fits the exact needs of your unique business. For a list or to learn more, contact us.

Agriculture

Architecture & Engineering

Banking

Bio-Technology

Construction

Education

Energy – E&P

Energy – Midstream

Energy – Renewable

Energy – Services

Financial Services

Food & Beverage

Healthcare

Insurance

Manufacturing

Professional Services

Real Estate

Restaurant

Retail

Transportation

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Compensation Committee priorities 2023

2023 Compensation Committee Priorities

2023 Compensation Committee Priorities A recent poll conducted found that 98% of CEOs expect a recession in 2023, although there is little agreement on the duration or severity. While economic

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A New Currency: WFH

A New Currency: Work From Home

A New Currency in the Compensation Toolbox: Work From Home If necessity is the mother of invention, then the COVID pandemic is the mother of a new compensation currency: Work

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employee benefits

What Job Seekers are Looking For

What Job Seekers Are Looking For Job seeker preferences are shifting – with candidates now indicating that the right salary/benefits takes priority over other elements (like the flexibility of remote

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Our Locations

Zayla Partners in Houston

Houston Office

24285 Katy Freeway, Suite 400
Katy, TX 77494
832.363.5089
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Zayla Partners in Dallas Texas

Dallas Office

9127 Chapel Valley
Dallas, TX 75220
972.996.4785

Zayla Partners in Denver Colorado

Denver Office

9200 E Mineral Ave, Suite 100
Centennial, CO 80112
720.662.7365

Houston: 832.363.5089

Dallas: 972.996.4785

Denver: 720.662.7365

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Expertise.com Best Business Consultants in Houston 2022
Certified Executive Compensation Professional
Certified Compensation Professional
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