BBC boss slams move to 'disguise' big salaries

Published on Wednesday 8 September 2010 13:38

A PROPOSAL by a BBC executive to disguise pay rates for its top stars and managers was "totally unacceptable", the corporation's boss has said.

Earlier this year, the BBC's reward director, Robert Johnston, suggested staff responsible for releasing data on how many staff earn above 100,000 should "deliberately disguise" the number of bosses on six-figure salaries by putting them in a pay bracket between 80,000 and 110,000.

Mr Johnston, who earns 196,550, later apologised for the proposal, which he put forward in an e-mail.

BBC director-general Mark Thompson told a meeting of the culture, media and sport select committee in central London yesterday: "It was made quite clear to the individual involved it was totally unacceptable.

"The suggestion in the e-mail was not adopted and I would not defend what was said in that e-mail."

BBC Trust chairman Sir Michael Lyons told the committee that high pay "remains a niggling area of concern for the public".

Mr Thompson repeated his message that the BBC faced cuts at every level. He said: "We are committed to running the BBC with as few people as we can."

He has already pledged "top talent" pay would be reduced.