In this paper, I examine the relation between the composition of institutional ownership
and the structure of CEO compensation. I argue that institutional investors can indirectly
influence executive compensation through investing and trading decisions (i.e., clientele
effects) as well as direct involvement for monitoring. Institutions with minor holdings may have little incentive to monitor by themselves, but if the board of directors cares about
potential effects of institutional selling of shares and the resulting change in their firm’s
institutional shareholder composition, the board may tilt a firm’s executive compensation
practice towards institutional investor preference.