Allison Kirkby, who became chief executive of BT in February 2024, saw her pay and bonus package more than double to £5.6 million, the largest pay award to a BT boss in over a decade.
Pay Package Details
Kirkby received a total remuneration package of £5.58 million for the year ending March 2025, more than double the £2.48 million she received in her first year. This is significantly higher than the £3.7 million maximum awarded to her predecessor, Philip Jansen, during his five-year tenure. The last larger award was to Ian Livingston, who received £9.4 million in 2012-13.
The package includes a £1 million cash bonus payable this month and £3.25 million in share awards under a long-term incentive program, which will vest over three years.
Share Price Surge
BT's share price has surged nearly 80% since Kirkby took the helm, reflecting the success of a long and expensive restructuring program. This increase directly boosted the value of her bonus and share awards.
Kirkby also received a 3% salary increase to £1.1 million this year. BT stated it agreed a 4.1% pay rise with unions for employees earning under £30,000 and a 3% increase for those earning more.
A BT spokesperson commented: "For the first time, Allison's total remuneration this year includes the estimated value of her long-term share awards, which will release over the next three years. These have benefited from the significant increase in share price since Allison joined as chief executive."
Investment and Restructuring
After years of criticism over underinvestment, BT announced a £15 billion investment in 2021 to upgrade its network to full-fibre broadband and 5G. In 2023, it disclosed plans to cut 55,000 jobs from its global workforce of 130,000 by 2030 as infrastructure projects conclude and AI improves efficiency.
