Pay for REIT Execs Increases By 13%

NEW YORK CITY-It’s been a strong year for publicly-traded REITs–and for top executives and shareholders it’s been a lucrative one as well. A recent study from global business advisory firm FTI Consulting found that total compensation increases for top REIT executives, at the median, held the line at 13%, but ranged from increases of 2% to more than 30% in total pay overall.

The executive compensation report–which looked at 117 public REITs across all property sectors in June 2011–found that salary adjustments for REIT CEOs increased at the median by 14%, but ranged from flat to increases of more than 32%. Compensation for REIT CFOs was comparable, with total compensation increasing at the median by 14%. The report notes that equity compensation amounts have “increased significantly” over the last several years and salary adjustments have rebounded by approximately 5% to 10% above pre-recession compensation levels.