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Imps and Compass bosses in the money
Simon English and Robert Lea6 Jan 2009
Supposedly there's a recession, but don't ask the chief executives of Imperial Tobacco or Compass for details.
Both men got a bonus of more than £1 million for their efforts in the last year, suggesting the days of the City fat cat are far from over.
Gareth Davis, the self-described “committed smoker” who runs the cigarette giant behind Lambert & Butler, took home almost £4 million, including long-term incentives and share awards. That's up from £3.5 million a year ago.
Richard Cousins at catering group Compass can afford a few more Turkey Twizzlers after seeing his pay edge up to £2.3 million. He got a bonus of £1.2 million. Both companies might argue this pay is just reward for success.
Imps saw profits jump 51% to £2.2 billion in the year to September. Davis also pushed through the takeover of Spain's Altadis.
Cousins turned the caterer from a scandal-riven business that endured rows with Jamie Oliver to a hugely successful company. Profits in the year to September were up 19% at £662 million.
