Burberry shareholders revolt over pay package for luxury house’s new CEO Christopher Bailey

Burberry shop in Pacific Place, Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong. Photo by Dosdldyhai / Wikimedia Commons.

LONDON—Shareholders of luxury British fashion house Burberry have voted to reject a multimillion-pound pay package for the brand’s new chief.

Results of voting at Burberry’s annual general meeting Friday showed that 52.7 per cent of shareholders protested the earnings Christopher Bailey is expected to receive.

Bailey was appointed chief executive in May on top of being the brand’s chief designer. He received a one-time award of 500,000 shares worth some 7 million pounds ($12 million) last year and also receives 1.1 million pounds ($1.9 million) in salary, bonuses up to twice the salary and cash allowances.

Friday’s vote was non-binding but it was a rare revolt by shareholders over executive salaries. Chairman John Peace said he was disappointed and he would talk to investors to try to address their concerns.