Fonterra chief executive Theo Spierings asked for his salary to be frozen three days before the co-operative released its annual result, a spokesman for the company said.
He said Spierings' request was not in response to the unfavourable publicity that has arisen since the company revealed that he received a pay increase of up to 18 per cent in the 2014/15 year.
Fonterra last week disclosed that Spierings earned between $4.93 million and $4.94 million in the year to July 31, up from $4.17 million to $4.18 million in the previous year.
The company does not disclose Spierings' base salary, but it is understood to be close to $4 million.
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