Steven Cross

Steve Cross serves as the outside advisor to the board of directors and executive management in the design and ongoing administration of executive compensation programs. For over 25 years, he has provided independent advice to clients on a full range of topics related to executive compensation such as: annual and long-term incentive plan design, equity compensation, severance arrangements, corporate governance, compensation strategy, competitive analysis, public disclosures, and foreign domicile related issues. He has served a wide range of clients that include publicly traded as well as privately held companies, ranging in size from small cap to Fortune 100.

Steve joined FW Cook in 2012, when the Firm acquired Cogent Compensation Partners, a Houston-based executive compensation consulting firm he founded. Prior to founding Cogent Compensation Partners, he was the market leader for Mercer’s executive compensation practice in Houston. He also spent 10 years at KPMG where he was the Partner in Charge of the executive compensation consulting practice for the Southwest Region.

Steve has written numerous articles, contributed to the publication of books, and spoken many times on the subject of compensation. He has been a regular guest lecturer on the subject of compensation and corporate governance at the Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University.

Relevant Experience

• Compensation Committee Advisor
• Incentive Plan Design
• Severance Plan Design
• Director Compensation
• Corporate Governance Process
• CEO Attraction/Transition
• Foreign Domicile Related Issues
• IPO Planning/Coordination
• Private Company Long-term Incentive Design
• Competitive Market Comparisons
• Stock Ownership Guidelines
• Severance Arrangements
• Equity Plan Proposals
• CD&A Drafting/Review
• Shareholder Outreach

Speaking Engagements and Presentations

September 19, 2024
The Conference Board – Executive Compensation in Context
Aligning Human Capital and Executive Compensation Strategies with Your Unique Situation
Read More

October 19, 2023
The Conference Board
Evolving Executive Compensation – Revisiting our Guiding Principles
Read More

November 4, 2022
The Conference Board – Executive Compensation Conference
Program Highlights, Closing Questions, and Wrap-Up
Read More

June 15, 2022
Harvard Law School
2022 Corporate Governance Roundtable
Read More

Publications