Are managers more inclined to split their shares if they stand to personally benefit from them? The greater the variable compensation in the remuneration package, i.e., the more a compensation package represents a call option on the stock; the more inclined CEOs are to split the firms' shares. Accompanied by the increase in stock price and volatility subsequent to a stock split, CEOs can increase the value of their option packages by splitting the firm's shares as it sends a credible signal to the market. By focusing on stock option exercise behaviour of CEOs I provide initial evidence that executives use the stock split to time option exercises.