William Hill freeze executive pay and scrap bonuses due to coronavirus outbreak

William Hill's executive team led by Ulrik Bengtsson will not receive salary increases or bonuses as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.

Bengtsson, the bookmaker's chief executive, has also decided he will not accept the performance share plan award made to him in March.

While employees across the group will not receive salary increases, those entitled to under National Minimum Wage requirements will receive those rises, while the company will also top up the wages of furloughed staff to 100 per cent of normal salary levels.

William Hill chief executive Ulrik Bengtsson

Lynne Weedall, chair of William Hill's remuneration committee, said: "As a board, we are focused on taking appropriate steps during the current emergency that will look to protect the interests of all of our key stakeholders [employees, customers, suppliers and shareholders] to best ensure the strength of our business in the long-term."

She added: "From an employee perspective the most marked impact has perhaps been on those employees working in our retail business where we have had to close our stores.

"We understand that the income that these roles provide to many employees and their families is important and so we have decided to top-up the wages of furloughed colleagues to 100 per cent of normal salary levels for the time being."

The news means that Bengtsson's annual salary will remain at £600,000 for 2020.

Shareholders will be asked to approve the directors remuneration report for 2019 at the company's annual general meeting on May 15.

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