DOWN THE PAN
Fat-cat boss steers clear of mansion
BY DAVID PILDITCH THE fat-cat boss of collapsed travel firm Thomas Cook was being protected by security last night, as thousands of holidaymakers were left stranded around the world.
Swiss millionaire Peter Fankhauser, 58, was not at his rented £2million mansion yesterday as chaos ensued in the wake of the firm’s collapse.
Yesterday, a security guard was outside Fankhauser’s £6000-amonth six-bedroom mansion on a private estate in Hersham, Surrey.
He threatened to call the police when asked if Fankhauser would like to send a message to more than a million customers whose dreams have been shattered after the firm went into administration.
The guard said: “He’s not at the property and I can’t tell you when he is coming back.
“He is with one of our security teams. He has made it clear he doesn’t want to speak to the press. This is a private estate and you are not welcome here.”
Fankhauser, 58, has been chief executive since 2014 during which time he has pocketed an annual salary of up to £725,000.
With his bonuses of £4.6million, he earned more than £8million.
Fankhauser shares his home, which has a pool in the back garden, with wife Raffaella Cassani and two of his three children. THOMAS Cook staff were forced to buy their own toilet paper while the firm’s bosses trousered millions in pay and perks it was claimed yesterday, as it emerged former chiefs could be grilled by MPs.
Bosses, directors and auditors have been warned they may be hauled to Westminster to explain themselves in the wake of the company’s collapse.
The warning came as the CBI threw its weight behind an inquiry into executive pay at the holiday giant after it was revealed bosses earned £50million in the past ten years.
Meanwhile, a hardship fund was set up to help some of the 9000 UK staff who have lost their jobs due to Monday’s liquidation as union bosses called on banks to give former discuss at the next meeting how we can do that.”
Yesterday, staff turned their fury on chiefs at Thomas Cook, whose CEO Peter Fankhauser raked in more than £8million since 2014.
Jennifer Jones, who worked in one of the firm’s branches for three years, said: “We ran out of stationery and we weren’t able to order anything.
“We couldn’t even buy toilet paper and I had to buy some myself. It went the same for kitchen roll and paper towels. It was disgusting.”
She is “furious” at now finding out how much chiefs were paid, adding: “It just feels we were taken advantage of.”
Insiders say Fankhauser is helping with the aftermath of the collapse but is not now being paid.