After the financial crisis, people were demanding that CEO pay be tied to company performance. So instead of large salaries, CEOs were given large equity positions ( options ). The politicians/people thought this was a punishment, but it was actually a great boon for CEOs. Not only do they pay 20% on capital gains instead of nearly 40% on salary, they can boost stock prices artificially over the short term by taking out loans ( nearly 0% for the last 10 years ) and then buy stocks back.

This is also a favorite hedge fund raid. Hedge funds open up large positions on companies. Demand board seats. Get board seats and then get the execs to sell assets, layoff employees and take out loans to buyback shares. Get out with a nice profit. And the company is left with a huge debt loan that'll crush them once interest rates rise.