THE chief executive of Macfarlane Group, Peter Atkinson, saw his total remuneration increase by 40 per cent last year after exercising long-standing share options.

The annual report of the Glasgow-based packaging specialist shows Mr Atkinson received total remuneration of £586,000 in 2014 compared with £416,000 the preceding year. The 2014 remuneration included £105,000 in respect of share options. Mr Atkinson did not have any remuneration under that heading in 2013. Mr Atkinson's annual bonus rose to £73,000, from £16,000. His basic salary increased by two per cent to £321,000 in 2014 from £315,000 in 2013. The total remuneration of finance director John Love increased by 18 per cent annually, to £205,000 from £174,000. The total boardroom paybill rose by 27 per cent, to £945,000 from £745,000. The company's chairman Graeme Bissett noted in the report that Macfarlane Group grew profit before tax and exceptional items by 11 per cent in 2014, to £5.6m from £5.1m, fuelled by a combination of organic sales growth and targeted acquisitions.