Thames Water boss scoops £1.6m in pay despite giving up her bonus

Thames Water’s boss scooped a pay packet of £1.6million despite giving up her bonus after outrage over the industry’s record on leaks and sewage spills.

Sarah Bentley, who took over at the UK’s largest water firm three years ago, said last month she would forgo her bonus for the 2022-23 financial year – joining the bosses of rivals Pennon Group and Yorkshire Water – amid fierce criticism of the water sector.

But Thames Water confirmed that its annual report in July will reveal Bentley was still paid £1.6million as her £750,000 basic salary was topped up with £90,000 in pension payments and another £32,000 in travel, medical and other benefits.

She also received £548,000 in connection with a ‘golden hello’ package of shares and bonuses granted when Thames poached her from rival Severn Trent.

Bentley also received a bonus of £178,000 connected to the company’s performance during her first two years in charge.

The mammoth pay packet attracted harsh condemnation from the GMB trade union, with national officer Gary Carter branding Bentley’s announcement that she would not take a bonus as ‘nothing more than a flimsy PR stunt’.