Bennett joins the big pay league

LINDA Bennett, founder of the upmarket L K Bennett shoe chain, has been catapulted into the big league of high-earning female directors after a bumper year.

Bennett, 39, who was named Business Woman of the Year a month ago, paid herself £2.4m in the 12 months to July 31 last year, according to documents just filed at Companies House. This compares with slightly more than £2m the year before.

The company made a profit of almost £2m compared with £877,000 the previous year.

The pay rivals that of top names such as Belinda Earl of Debenhams, who took home £3.8m last year, and Stagecoach director Anne Gloag, who was paid £3.85m.

But Bennett trails some High Street super-earners. Marilyn Anselm of Hobbs was paid £14.6m last year, while Sara Phillips of Jane Norman Fashion received a reputed £32m.