Data: Who are retail’s highest paid bosses?

Executive pay in retail has been in the spotlight over recent weeks as Tesco boss Ken Murphy became the sector’s highest paid chief executive last year when his pay packet doubled to £9.93m.

However, he may face competition from Asda’s new boss as it emerged that co-owner Mohsin Issa is creating a £10m package to woo a prospective leader. Retail Gazette takes a look at the sector’s highest paid bosses.

Tesco’s Murphy admitted last week he was “well paid” after facing criticism from NGO group ShareAction to justify his bumper pay check amid the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Despite a backlash, only 6.5% of shareholders voted against the boss’ final pay after profits more than doubled at the grocer.

M&S CEO Stuart Machin and co-CEO Katie Bickerstaff also saw their pay packets more than double in their first full year at the high street chain after taking up the roles in May 2022. Bickerstaffe’s pay sits slightly lower than her fellow chief executive’s to reflect her 4-day work week.

Both JD Sports boss Régis Schultz’s and Burberry CEO Jonathan Akeroyd’s remuneration was noticeably lower  this year following the buyout awards they both recieved when they joined the year prior for forfeiting bonus’ at their previous companies.

Meanwhile, a tough year in retail saw bonus’ scrapped for the likes of The Works CEO Gavin Peck, Superdry co-founder Julian Dunkerton and Dr Martens boss Kenny Wilson.

One of retail’s most outspoken CEO’s Matt Moulding took home a very modest pay package last year at £29,000 as he waived most of his £750,000 base salary in return for THG making a charitable donation to The Moulding Foundation.

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