Six executives paid Lion's share

Lion Nathan chief executive Gordon Cairns maintained his $2.2 million pay packet last year, according to the company's annual report.

That made Mr Cairns New Zealand's highest paid executive last year - or at least highest among those required to disclose what they earn.

Lion Nathan has now shifted offices to Sydney and is no longer based in New Zealand.

Companies listed on the Stock Exchange must disclose their highest earners, but other companies need not.

Lion also has five other executives earning seven-figure salaries. Its China sales director, A Chu, made $1.4 million, its managing director in Australia, Walter Bugno, $1.4 million, and its New Zealand managing director, Roger North, $1.2 million. Chief financial officer Paul Lockey earned $1.1 million and Asia managing director Jim O'Mahony, $1 million.

Chairman Douglas Myers was paid $167,092 for his part-time duties.

Four of Lion's nine directors are representatives of its largest shareholder, Japanese brewer Kirin, but Lion has avoided disclosing what they are paid by contracting with Kirin to provide "strategic and management advice."

One of the Kirin nominees, Hirotake Kobayashi, works full-time for the company in its Sydney office, but his pay is not disclosed.

- NZPA