Highest paid charity boss steps down in row over £216k pay

Scotland's highest paid charity boss has resigned amid an uproar over the size of his pay packet, which sees him earn more than the First Minister.

Stuart Earley, chief executive of animal welfare charity Scottish SPCA, has resigned after facing cricism of his £216,000 salary

The Scottish SPCA has confirmed that its chief executive Stuart Earley is to stand down with immediate effect in the wake of reports that he had received another hefty wage rise, despite a fall in income for the animal welfare charity.

The 59-year-old has been under increasing scrutiny after it was revealed he was paid in excess of £216,000 in 2015, significantly more than Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon – who earns £144,687 – and Prime Minister Theresa May – on £143,462.

His earnings comprised a basic wage of £180,000, plus a £31,000 bonus and expenses, bringing the total to £216,320.

But it emerged that Mr Earley has been awarded a further 3.5 per cent increase, bringing his basic pay up to 190,855.

The figure dwarfs the average earnings of his 350 staff, whose pay went up by just 1.2 per cent to £21,654 per year.

The rise has sparked outrage among campaigners and animal organisations.

David Craig, author of the Great Charity Scandal and founder of the Snouts in the Trough website, says the former aquarium boss has been “absurdly overpaid”.

He added: “It’s an utter disgrace that Stuart Earley should have been paid so much for so long.

“The head of the RSPCA, which is almost ten times the size of the SSPCA, receives £150,000 a year – £66,000 a year less than Stuart Earley.”

The chief executive of nature conservation charity RSPB, which has the highest turnover of all UK charities, earns an even more modest £120,000.

The SSPCA brings in £14.3 million annually, a fraction of the RSPCA’s £125.9m and RSPB’s £132.9m. This means Mr Earley earns £15,127 per £1m raised, compared to £1,191 and £902 for his RSPCA and RSPB counterparts.

The Scottish charity has previously defended the pay rise, claiming the organisation had been transformed under Mr Earley’s leadership.

However, a spokesman has confirmed he will stand down “in order to seek a new challenge”. He said the move means Mr Earley can focus on his future plans and will allow the society to “move forward with its own new chapter”.