(3 March 2010 – UK) An HSBC banker of 30 years has admitted to feeling ‘uncomfortable’ over his 2009 package totalling a staggering £10 million (A$16.6 million), including a 2009 bonus of £9 million.Stuart Gulliver, HSBC’s head of investment banking, is one of five senior banking executives that received £38.5 million in salary and bonuses for 2009, the bank’s annual report has revealed.
Mr Gulliver has said that he intends to give ‘some’ of his bonus to charity after being scrutinised over the mammoth bonus amount.
The banker received the bonus after leading a strong year for the investment bank, trebling profits to US$10.5 billion (A$11.7 billion).
However, the bank’s chief executive officer, Michael Geoghegan has announced plans to give away ‘up to four million pounds’ of his £5.6 million package to charities around the world.
Mr Geoghegan, in a statement, said that he and his wife Jania had anonymously supported educational charities in several countries over the years and the proceeds would go to charities including ones in Hong Kong and the UK.