Why Do Equity Plans Fail? with NatWest's David Edwards and Nigel Watson

Share plans can break at any point in their lifecycle: the story, the instrument, or the economics. Knowing which is which is how you build something that holds up under pressure.Recorded live at Teuchters Bar in Edinburgh, this episode brings together two guests who have spent careers on opposite sides of the equity table. Christoffer Herheim, host and CEO of Optio, recorded this episode live at Teuchters Bar in Edinburgh with two guests who have spent careers on opposite sides of the equity table. Nigel Watson heads the incentives practice at Burges Salmon, one of the UK's leading law firms, with decades of experience designing and challenging share plans. David Edwards is Head of Corporate Secretariat and Shareholder Services at NatWest, and has lived through one of the most extraordinary share plan journeys in UK banking history: a share price near 20p when he joined post-financial crisis, and a 15-year road back to £7.Together they dig into why equity plans overpromise, where they break (the story, the instrument, or the economics), and what practitioners almost never discuss openly: what happens when it all goes wrong.In this episode:The three points where equity plans break: the story, the instrument, and the economicsWhy comprehension matters more than communication, and why most companies confuse the twoClawback: real protection or reputational cover?Concentration risk and the employer's responsibility to guide employees on diversificationHow NatWest kept employees invested through a decade-long share price recoveryThe equity integrity audit every company should be running annuallyWhether you are an in-house reward professional, an advisor, or a founder designing your first plan, this episode asks the questions most practitioners are too polite to raise.Connect with Nigel Watson on LinkedIn Connect with David Edwards on LinkedInFor more information check our website: https://www.optioincentives.com/stock-n-roll Follow Optio on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/optio-incentives Please note: This podcast content is for informational purposes only and is not intended as professional advice. Always consult qualified legal, tax, and financial advisors for guidance specific to your situation.Message us here Join Stock 'N Roll with Christoffer Herheim, CEO and co-founder of Optio, as we break down what works—and what doesn’t—in equity compensation, with insights you can act on.