Deloitte hikes pay for top boss while headcount shrinks
Big Four giant Deloitte hiked pay for one of its chief executives last year by almost half while overall headcount at the firm fell, in part tied to targeted job cuts. According to the firm’s latest pay report, Deloitte’s chief executive of EMEA, Richard Houston, saw his pay increase to £7.1m last year, almost fifty [...]
Deloitte, the renowned global professional services firm, recently boosted the compensation of one of its top executives by nearly half, despite a decline in overall workforce size. According to the company's latest pay report, Richard Houston, Deloitte's chief executive for the EMEA region, witnessed a substantial pay increase to £7.1 million in the previous year, a significant 50% rise from £4.9 million in 2025.
Prior to his promotion in June, Houston had been leading Deloitte's UK operations for seven years. In addition to his pay hike, Houston was awarded a one-off incentive grant under a long-term plan, contingent on strategic and financial performance metrics, including his contributions to the firm's broader European operations. Houston's increased pay package amounted to 93 times the median salary of Deloitte's UK employees in the most recent financial year, up from 65 times the higher figure in the preceding year.
The reduction in Deloitte's headcount is attributed to targeted job cuts, including a recent reduction of nearly 200 positions in the UK audit business. The company offered voluntary redundancy packages to employees in response to low attrition rates, providing enhanced terms for those considering the option. As Deloitte seeks to create up to 100 new jobs across the North of England with the launch of a specialized regional deals unit, the firm remains committed to managing costs while expanding its presence in key markets.
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