ACEVO chief hits out at Charity Commission chairman over comments on pay

ACEVO chief Sir Stephen Bubb has slammed comments made by Charity Commission chairman William Shawcross on charity CEO pay.

Shawcross said in an interveiew in today's The Daily Telegraph that large salaries paid to charity staff could "bring the charitable world into disrepute".

Shawcross said organisations must ask if pay levels are "really appropriate".

The Daily Telegraph report noted that 30 staff at 14 leading UK foreign aid charities were paid £100,000 or more last year.

The charities detailed by the newspaper make up the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), which co-ordinates work after disasters overseas.

Shawcross, who was appointed last year on a £50,000 annual salary to work two days a week, said the Commission could not tell charities how much they should pay their executives, but urged them to be cautious.

"In these difficult times, when many charities are experiencing shortfalls, trustees should consider whether very high salaries are really appropriate, and fair to both the donors and the taxpayers who fund charities," he said.

"Disproportionate salaries risk bringing organisations and the wider charitable world into disrepute," he added.

But hitting back, Bubb said: “This is an disgraceful distraction by Mr Shawcross. Of all the issues facing charities why does he pick on something that is simply not a problem.

"Third sector CEO’s earn on average £58,000. That is less than Mr Shawcross earns as chair of the Commission.

"Charities shouldn’t be ashamed of paying people what they are worth. It’s essential that the sector attracts skilled and experienced professionals, not keen amateurs.

"And if we compare professional levels of pay in the private and public sectors, our CEOs earn much less .

"Shawcross should be defending the sector not undermining it. What donors and what beneficiaries want is high quality services from efficient and effective charities.

"A strong sector needs strong leaders. We must pay to get them. Not excessive salaries, but professional ones. I suggest Mr Shawcross gets to grip with the inefficiencies of his Commission before criticising good charity leaders.”