CEO pay hits Rs 10.5 cr, growth slows: Deloitte

New Delhi: The median compensation for non-promoter or professional CEOs rose 5 per cent year-on-year to Rs 10.5 crore in FY26, according to a Deloitte report. The median CEO compensation of Rs 10.5 crore marks the slowest growth since COVID-19, alongside evolving structures around incentives, stock-linked pay and the rising prominence of roles such as the Chief Digital Officer, it added. “CXO compensation decisions in India have shown great maturity. Given the ongoing underperformance of Indian equity markets over the past 12-18 months, it is natural that pay increases were lower last year.

“Market volatility and downside risks have only increased recently due to the ongoing geopolitical risks. We do not expect any knee-jerk reactions from Boards and Remuneration Committees, and they are likely to change course depending on how domestic and external events unfold,” said Anandorup Ghose, Partner, Deloitte India. Among CXOs, CFOs witnessed the highest compensation increase given the high attrition, focus on capital efficiency, and direct shareholder accountability. “CFO pay also witnessed a sharp increase as the role has become more critical in an increasingly volatile business environment. Companies are relying on their CFOs to steer financial resilience and strategic decision-making. At the same time, this year noted a significant churn in CFO talent (around 15 per cent NIFTY50 companies saw a change in CFO incumbents), underlining the high demand for experienced, Board-level talent,” Ghose noted. The report further noted that remuneration strategies in India, particularly with respect to stock awards, are also undergoing a fast transition.