Post by Teddy Bear on Aug 17, 2012 22:37:10 GMT
One of the signs that reveal the blatant arrogance of the BBC executives is in the salaries they award themselves, way in excess of even that given to the Prime Minister.
BBC report reveals executives' inflation-busting pay rises
Corporation's quarterly report shows overall fall in expenses claims, but three managers' salaries rise by up to 12%
Three BBC programming executives have received inflation-busting pay rises of up to 12%, according to the salaries and expenses report published by the corporation.
The quarterly report, published on Thursday, covers expenses filed by senior BBC managers who earn more than £150,000. It includes a return flight to New York costing more than £3,000 for the outgoing director general, Mark Thompson.
In the three months to the end of March 2012, the senior managers spent £166,899, a 2% increase on the amount claimed on expenses for the same period a year ago.
A BBC spokeswoman pointed out that the total amount claimed on expenses was 4% less than in the previous quarter – the three months to the end of 2011 – and has fallen by 11% overall since 2009. She said there were "particular savings on hotels, taxis and hospitality".
The report revealed that substantial pay rises were handed out to three executives earlier this year – at the same time as the BBC's management had tried to push through a 1% annual pay offer to staff.
A BBC spokeswoman said that their pay rises came as part of a restructure of BBC Vision, which means that those executives have been handed additional responsibilities.
Katie Taylor, the head of entertainment, received the largest proportional pay rise – her total remuneration increased by 12%, from £167,800 to £187,800, and her basic salary rose from £160,000 to £180,000. Mark Freeland, the head of comedy, received the next biggest boost at 8.5%, to £207,800. His basic salary rose from £183,600 to £200,000. And Nick Brown, the director of drama productions, saw his remuneration package rise to £217,800. His basic salary increased from £200,000 to £210,000.
"These staff have received pay rises as a result of taking on increased responsibility and are now responsible for their genres across the whole of the UK," the spokeswoman said.
Among the expenses claims is a £3,245.73 return flight to new York taken by Thompson in February. Earlier this week, Thompson was named as the new chief executive of the New York Times Company. The newspaper publisher had been seeking a replacement since December, when Janet Robinson stepped down.
The spokeswoman said Thompson did not meet any executives from the New York Times, or any company related to the newspaper publisher, about the vacancy while he was on the business trip for the BBC in February. "This trip had a full itinerary and was to attend BBC and BBC Worldwide related meetings," she said. "For clarity, there have been no occasions when BBC time or money has been used in the process of him finding a new role."
Caroline Thomson, the BBC's chief operating officer, put in expenses claims for taxis totalling just over £2,500 during the three-month period. The BBC spokeswoman said Thomson's job required a considerable amount of travel to the corporation's premises around the country.
The BBC's creative director, Alan Yentob, claimed for more than 50 bookings, just over £1,200, during the three-month period.
"Expenses have fallen 4% this quarter and remain within a range proportionate to running a media organisation of this size," said the BBC spokeswoman. "We continue to be mindful of how we spend public money and to drive down costs wherever possible."
Corporation's quarterly report shows overall fall in expenses claims, but three managers' salaries rise by up to 12%
Three BBC programming executives have received inflation-busting pay rises of up to 12%, according to the salaries and expenses report published by the corporation.
The quarterly report, published on Thursday, covers expenses filed by senior BBC managers who earn more than £150,000. It includes a return flight to New York costing more than £3,000 for the outgoing director general, Mark Thompson.
In the three months to the end of March 2012, the senior managers spent £166,899, a 2% increase on the amount claimed on expenses for the same period a year ago.
A BBC spokeswoman pointed out that the total amount claimed on expenses was 4% less than in the previous quarter – the three months to the end of 2011 – and has fallen by 11% overall since 2009. She said there were "particular savings on hotels, taxis and hospitality".
The report revealed that substantial pay rises were handed out to three executives earlier this year – at the same time as the BBC's management had tried to push through a 1% annual pay offer to staff.
A BBC spokeswoman said that their pay rises came as part of a restructure of BBC Vision, which means that those executives have been handed additional responsibilities.
Katie Taylor, the head of entertainment, received the largest proportional pay rise – her total remuneration increased by 12%, from £167,800 to £187,800, and her basic salary rose from £160,000 to £180,000. Mark Freeland, the head of comedy, received the next biggest boost at 8.5%, to £207,800. His basic salary rose from £183,600 to £200,000. And Nick Brown, the director of drama productions, saw his remuneration package rise to £217,800. His basic salary increased from £200,000 to £210,000.
"These staff have received pay rises as a result of taking on increased responsibility and are now responsible for their genres across the whole of the UK," the spokeswoman said.
Among the expenses claims is a £3,245.73 return flight to new York taken by Thompson in February. Earlier this week, Thompson was named as the new chief executive of the New York Times Company. The newspaper publisher had been seeking a replacement since December, when Janet Robinson stepped down.
The spokeswoman said Thompson did not meet any executives from the New York Times, or any company related to the newspaper publisher, about the vacancy while he was on the business trip for the BBC in February. "This trip had a full itinerary and was to attend BBC and BBC Worldwide related meetings," she said. "For clarity, there have been no occasions when BBC time or money has been used in the process of him finding a new role."
Caroline Thomson, the BBC's chief operating officer, put in expenses claims for taxis totalling just over £2,500 during the three-month period. The BBC spokeswoman said Thomson's job required a considerable amount of travel to the corporation's premises around the country.
The BBC's creative director, Alan Yentob, claimed for more than 50 bookings, just over £1,200, during the three-month period.
"Expenses have fallen 4% this quarter and remain within a range proportionate to running a media organisation of this size," said the BBC spokeswoman. "We continue to be mindful of how we spend public money and to drive down costs wherever possible."