Electronic Arts CEO Andrew Wilson. Photo credit: Electronic Arts

Shareholders of gaming company Electronic Arts have profusely rejected the company’s executive pay plan in a recent advisory vote, with 171 million votes cast against the pay plan for named officers against about 60 million in favor, as indicated by a regulatory filing. Such a vote marks a rare rebuke for a company of EA’s caliber, with major opposition coming from proxy advisers such as Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS), which had earlier voiced concerns about a special round of stock awards for EA’s top executives.

EA’s top brass had previously received special stock awards for fiscal 2018 that haven’t fully vested, drawing queries about the necessity for a new round of such awards. According to the ISS, EA chief executive Andrew Wilson, who pulled in $21 million in compensation last year, is paid 56% more than a median CEO peer, which “has a ratcheting effect on executive compensation.”

With the vote, EA will likely adjust its executive compensation plan even though it asserts in a regulatory filing that its “pay practices align with our financial results.” The gaming company said that it issues special performance-based equity awards “sparingly” and has reaped strong results.

“We value the opinion of our shareholders, and the board and compensation committee will take their feedback into account as part of our ongoing evaluation of our compensation programs,” EA said in a statement. “We work constantly to make Electronic Arts a great place to be and work for our people, and in highly competitive talent markets, we work aggressively to keep the great people we have.”