Sima Sistani, recently ousted as CEO of WW International Inc. (formerly WeightWatchers), will leave the company with a valuable benefit: up to $37,500 worth of executive coaching through the end of the year, Fortune reports.
This perk is part of her exit package as the struggling diet company navigates a challenging period.
Executive coaching and outplacement services are becoming increasingly common in executive severance deals, according to Andrew Challenger, senior vice president of Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc., an outplacement firm. The coaching amount WW offered Sistani is considered typical for such packages.
In addition to coaching, Sistani’s exit package includes $50,000 to cover legal fees and one month’s salary as she transitions leadership to board member and interim CEO Tara Comonte. According to company filings, Sistani’s total compensation for 2023 was $8.9 million.
Data from a 2022 survey by management consulting firm Mercer reveals that about 80% of American and Canadian companies provide outplacement services, with 93% offering coaching to senior executives. In comparison, 78% offer such services to rank-and-file employees.
While the amount WW is offering for Sistani’s coaching is typical, some outplacement packages for top executives can run higher, with celebrity coaches charging up to $100,000 annually. These packages often include career, resume, and leadership coaching, as well as leadership assessments.
WW, which has struggled to retain customers amid the rise of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic, announced job cuts in August as part of its cost-saving measures.
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