The latest payday came after a year which saw AstraZeneca become the first company on the London stock market to reach a value of £200billion, with its stock price hitting a record high of 13,276p in September.
And while it is paring back plans for UK investment, AstraZeneca faces growing problems in its key China market after the head of its business in the country, Leon Wang, was arrested by local authorities alongside several other employees.
But despite the share price surge, the pay packet was lower than the record £17.4million the chief executive was awarded in 2023, making him one of the best-paid chief executive’s on the FTSE 100.
Last year, GQG Partners, a major AstraZeneca investor, said Soriot was ‘massively underpaid’ compared to the strong performance of the business under his watch.
Pay deal: Pascal Soriot, 65, topped up his basic salary of £1.8m with extras that included a bonus of £3.5m and share awards totalling £9.4m in 2024.
