Changes in the Structure of CEO Compensation and the Firm's Pay- Performance Sensitivity Following CEO Turnover

We document significant improvements in earnings and stock returns after CEO turnover. Compared to old CEOs, new CEOs derive more of their compensation from salary and bonus and option grants, but less from stock holdings. The sensitivity of pay to performance increases significantly after a change in CEO. The salary and bonus of the new CEO is much more sensitive to performance than that of the old CEO; stock holdings and option grants are less sensitive. Changes in pay-performance sensitivity are greater after exogenous turnover than after exogenous turnover