黑洞社区

Ian Tyler of Balfour Beatty, has come top of 黑洞社区鈥檚 chief executive value for money table, in the same week that 鈥渆xcessive鈥� bonuses were criticised by shareholder groups.

The table is based on nine firms that released figures for the year ended 31 December 2009. A value for money rating is calculated by dividing pre-tax profit (including exceptional items) by the chief executive鈥檚 pay.

Tyler tops the list for the second time in a row with a figure of 286 (2008: 278) after steering his firm to a 拢267m profit and taking home 拢933,000. John McDonough of Carillion was some distance behind on 78 (82); Costain鈥檚 Andrew Wyllie scored 25 (32).

One analyst said Tyler deserved his place. 鈥淗e鈥檚 done fantastically well with domestic acquisitions and Parsons Brinckerhoff in the US. They鈥檝e proved a Brit can make money in the US, and I鈥檇 back the US economy over the UK for the next few years.鈥�

The worst performing boss was Peter Redfern of Taylor Wimpey with 鈥�380 (鈥�2,254), the result of his 拢1.7m pay packet and a pre-tax loss of 拢641m. Redfern鈥檚 pay was criticised this week by the Association of British Insurers, which represents major shareholders; small shareholder lobby group Pirc advised investors to oppose his remuneration at the firm鈥檚 annual meeting on 29 April (see below).

A City analyst said: 鈥淎 chief executive should get a bonus only if the company makes a profit.

Or, keep it about cash flow and working capital and then when the market turns they won鈥檛 get a bonus. They can鈥檛 have it both ways.鈥�

One construction boss added: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a tricky one. You have to lead by example but during the downturn you also have to reward people. The main thing is that bonuses are commensurate with what you achieve.鈥�

Mike Farley, chief executive of Persimmon, performed relatively well, with an indicator of 61 (鈥�905). He was paid a 拢406,000 bonus and his total package was 拢1.3m after Persimmon made a profit of 拢77.8m, including land writebacks. Despite that, the company has also been in the sights of Pirc, which called on shareholders to oppose his re-election this week.

In March Richard Lambert, director-general of the CBI, said top executives 鈥渞isk being treated as aliens鈥� because their pay is so much greater than everyone else鈥檚.