Souter’s bonus donations top £900,000

Stagecoach Group Chief Executive Sir Brian Souter. Picture: Contributed

TRANSPORT tycoon Sir Brian Souter saw his pay package rise by almost 40 per cent last year despite giving up a further £157,000 of his bonus to fund medical screening for staff.

Souter, who moved to the position of non-executive chairman in May, received a £382,000 cash bonus on top of his £599,000 salary in the year to 30 April.

Together with pension benefits his total package rose to £1.2m, up from £876,000 the previous year.

For the fourth year running he gave up part of his bonus with funds being used to help pay the costs of a heart screening programme for staff. He has now paid £907,000 towards the £2m cost of the scheme.

The annual report also showed that former chairman Sir George Mathewson received a one-off payment of £113,333 on his retirement from the post.