Targets could earn YouGov chief Stephan Shakespeare £8m

YouGov chief executive Stephan Shakespeare was today in line for a long-term share award that could be worth close to £8 million if the online pollster hits targets over the next five years.

Shakespeare, who earned a basic £218,000 last year, will get a maximum of 11 times salary if he increases earnings per share by 25% a year, triples the share price and meets other “stretching” criteria.

“It is an expression of our ambition,” said Shakespeare, as he reported a 12% increase in adjusted operating profit before exceptional items to £7.7 million for the year to July.

However, pre-tax profit halved to £733,000 because of acquisitions and restructuring. The company’s sales climbed 8% to £67.4 million and the dividend rose by a third.

Shakespeare, whose firm accurately forecast the Scottish referendum result with its election-night poll, said the outcome of next year’s general election was so uncertain that it could result in “almost any coalition you could dream of”.