CEOs Paid 273 Times More Than Workers In 2012: Study

The average CEO makes hundreds of times what the average worker makes. And the average CEO probably didn't earn it all.

The average chief executive of one of the 350 biggest U.S. companies made about $14.07 million in 2012, including exercised stock options, according to a study by the Economic Policy Institute, a left-leaning think tank. In contrast, the average national pay for a non-supervisory worker was $51,200 last year. That means that in a typical top-350 company, the CEO made 273 times more than worker drones, by the EPI's estimate.

U.S. CEO sets a record with $159 million pension

McKesson’s Chairman and CEO John Hammergren has set a new record in corporate America: Largest pension around.

The drug distribution company disclosed in a regulatory filing Friday that Hammergren was entitled to a $159 million (U.S.) lump-sum payment for his pension, had he voluntarily left the company on March 31. The size of his pension was first reported by the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.

American Airlines CEO Tom Horton's Proposed Severance Pay Is Too Big: Trustee

The Justice Department is objecting to a proposed $20 million severance payment for American Airlines CEO Tom Horton, saying it's bigger than allowed by bankruptcy law.

Horton became CEO when American filed for Chapter 11 protection in November 2011. The proposed merger of US Airways Group Inc. and American calls for Horton to lose that job and become chairman of the combined company. American has proposed giving him severance pay of almost $20 million and lifetime flight benefits.

Taxpayers foot $110,054 bill for premiers conference swag

HALIFAX — Most Nova Scotians weren’t invited to the swanky party, but they paid for it. During last year’s premiers’ conference in Halifax, taxpayers coughed up $110,054.90 for a meeting steeped in swag.

The bill included $1,653 for whiskey tumblers with the Titanic etched on them, $1,625 for 25 cheese boards with beeswax, $1,875 for Diamond Jubilee leather journals, $4,940 for ‘Taste of Nova Scotia’ crates and $35,654.35 for 400 fleece jackets.

Gordon Nixon, RBC CEO, Gets $2.5-Million Pay Hike

TORONTO - Royal Bank (TSX:RY) chief executive Gord Nixon received a pay increase last year after taking a million-dollar pay cut in 2011.

The CEO earned $12.6 million in 2012, marking a raise from $10.1 million in 2011, according to the bank's annual disclosure released Monday.

JPMorgan Chase Reports Record Profits, But Homeowners Say They Are Left Out In The Cold

With a big assist from its mortgage division, JPMorgan Chase reported a record quarterly profit of $5.3 billion on Friday, another encouraging sign that the housing market is finally recovering from a collapse that has cost nearly 4 million families their home.

“We believe the housing market has turned the corner,” said Jamie Dimon, the bank’s chief executive, in a release.

What is less clear is whether JPMorgan Chase has turned the corner in its dealings with struggling homeowners. Under a $25 billion legal deal struck earlier this year with state and federal authorities, JPMorgan Chase and four other large banks promised to overhaul mortgage "servicing" practices, following widespread reports that the bank had botched the management of thousands of home loans, leading in many instances to unnecessary foreclosures. The deadline for compliance was Oct. 3.

Health expert a champion spender

So how about that high-flying health expert who whacked Alberta taxpayers for $487,000 a year in salary plus $346,000 in expenses in 3½ years at the Capital Health agency, then bonged eHealth in Ontario for over $75,000 a month as a consultant before getting hired as chief financial officer with Alberta Health Services? The Olympic magnitude of it inspires a certain awe.

I know, I know. It ended kind of badly when Allaudin Merali had to quit as CFO of AHS, at least one board member walked the plank and Health Minister Fred Horne is scrambling to save his own hide. And yes, taxpayers got soaked. But seriously, it is some kind of strange achievement. These people aren’t like us, are they?

Departing Alberta Health Services executive previously collected $1M severance

CALGARY — Health and opposition critics say they’re outraged the former finance boss for Alberta’s medical superboard — who stepped down over criticism of excessive spending — previously pocketed $1 million in severance and collects a sizable executive retirement package from the province.

Alberta Health Services is working out the terms of a severance package potentially worth six figures for Allaudin Merali after he exited the provincial health authority earlier this week.