CEO cuts off BBC interview after being asked about £75m bonus (Britain’s biggest)

Nothing like accountability

Earlier this year Jeff Fairburn, CEO of housebuilding company Persimmon, was paid a £75m bonus. Described as "Britain's biggest," it caused shareholders in the company to revolt. BBC Look North's Spencer Stokes decided to ask Jeff about his bonus in an interview. Jeff, after his PR intervened, walked off and said it was "really unfortunate" Spencer had asked him about it. Here's a transcript: Stokes: "Persimmon are obviously doing well this year, did well last year. That's reflected in your bonus. Do you have any regrets around the furore surrounding that?" Fairburn: "I errr, yeah." PR: "Can we not? Sorry, we're talking about brick manufacturing." Stokes: "Obviously the construction of the bricks follows on from how well Persimmon's doing, so I just thought the two issues were tied together, really." Fairburn: "I'd rather not talk about that actually, it's been well covered, so." Stokes: "So you don't want to discuss that today? Are there any lessons to be learned from that? It was the biggest bonus in the country. No? Okay fine." Fairburn: "I think that's really unfortunate actually, that you've done that." https://twitter.com/spencerstokestv/status/1052981336288432128 Fairburn took a reduction in bonus from £110m, to which he said he was legally entitled, to £75m. Several shareholders voiced their outrage at the decision at Persimmon's annual meeting.