DO-GOODER WHO EARNS £7.4m

UNILEVER boss Paul Polman, 61, is that rare beast among FTSE 100 chiefs, one who feels duty-bound to run his company for the benefit of society rather than just its shareholders.

Arriving at the helm of Unilever in 2009, Polman – who earned £7.4m last year – did away with quarterly profits updates, claiming they encouraged short-term thinking.

He won over charities with sustainability projects, and then investors by keeping company profits at a healthy £2.9bn.

The second of six children, his father worked in a tyre factory and his mother was a teacher.

He studied economics at Cincinnati University, where he met his American wife, Kim, with whom he has three children. After 27 years at Proctor & Gamble, he joined Nestle, before being poached by Unilever. He’s due to retire later this year.