The average total pay of a FTSE 100 director rose by 20% during the 2009/10 financial year, while the average UK salary rose by just 2%, as bonuses shot up in line with share prices that recovered from 2008's crisis far faster than the economy at large.

The average pay-packet for the "most highly-paid director" - usually the chief executive or executive chairman - is now £3m (€3.6m), according to a report by pay consultants Hewitt New Bridge Street, released today. That was up from £2.5m the year before.