(From Business Wire) -- Corporate executives can expect moderate salary increases and tougher performance hurdles in 2012, according to a new survey from independent compensation consultancy Pearl Meyer & Partners. The firm’s annual preview of executive pay programs shows companies are modifying incentive-based compensation programs in response to pressures to provide a better alignment between executive pay and performance.

“Both the survey results and our client work point to a recognition by corporate leaders that linking pay to performance is absolutely essential – and that they’re less than satisfied with their current programs in that regard,” said Jim Heim, Managing Director of Pearl Meyer & Partners.

The 190 survey participants in PM&P on Compensation Planning: Looking Ahead to Executive Pay Practices in 2012 from the Fortune 50 to emerging high-growth companies. Publicly traded companies accounted for 57% of survey participants, while 29% were closely or privately held, and the rest not-for-profits.

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