It has been revealed that Stephen Kelly, director of BBC People, earned £431,000 in 2007-08.
The figures were announced as part of the corporation’s annual report. Kelly, who sits on the BBC’s executive board, joined the corporation from BT in October 2006. He has responsibility for developing and implementing global HR strategies at both operational and board level.
Broadcasting union BECTU has slammed the pay. “Despite the substantial upheaval and upset which BBC staff have had to endure in the past year with the loss of almost 2,000 jobs, it is astonishing that executive directors, who are already paid handsomely, should choose to take their bonuses,” said BECTU’s general secretary Gerry Morrissey.
Figures collated in an HR salary survey by recruiter FSS earlier this year reported that salaries for HR professionals are climbing, with key talent commanding, in some cases, in excess of £140,000 a year. Kelly’s salary tops that by £291,000. HR recruiters Joslin Rowe told HRZone.co.uk that the figures may reflect Kelly’s standing on the board.
One Response
Taxpayers money
The folk at the BBC seem to forget that we taxpayers pay their salaries via the licence-tax. (If you can be put in prison for not paying it, as you can, then it is a tax). I see no reason for anyone in the BBC to be paid more than an MP, with the Executive team being paid no more than Cabinet Ministers. There is no validity in the argument for “market rates” for BBC staff – if they all left to-morrow there would be many high-quality applicants for their jobs.