Lloyds boss in focus over perks

The chief executive of Bank of Scotland owner Lloyds is to come under renewed fire from staff over the size of his pension allowance, reigniting a row over excessive payouts for company bosses.

Antonio Horta-osorio was forced to give up his lucrative final salary pension on Tuesday, following complaints from the Lloyds staff group Affinity, which represents 20,000 employees.

But it is understood that Affinity plans to write to shareholder trade body the Investment Association again this week, pointing out the difference between the bank chief ’s pension allowance and that of everyday staff.

Horta-osorio receives payments in lieu of pension contributions of 33 per cent of salary, amounting to £419,000 this year.

While this is a reduction from 46 per cent of salary, or £573,000, Affinity will point out that the vast majority of ordinary staff at the bank are only entitled to a pension contribution of 13 per cent.

The latest move will pile pressure on the lender ahead of its annual meeting in May.

The Investment Association – whose members manage £7.7 trillion of assets – has launched an initiative focusing on pension perks for bosses at Britain’s biggest firms as AGM season approaches.

It is asking companies to reduce the gap between the pensions of top executives and staff and will issue a “redtop” warning – the highest and most serious level – on firms which pay newly-appointed directors at rates above the majority of the workforce.

Horta-osorio banked total pay of £6.27 million for 2018.

The chief executive himself oversaw the end of final salary schemes at Lloyds, leaving him the only employee at the bank entitled to the perk until it was axed this week.

The move also comes after HSBC was criticised for paying chief John Flint £372,000 a year in lieu of contributing to his pension.